NPA withdraws charges against South Africa's police chief Masemola

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn all charges against suspended South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, following a review that found no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution. The decision was announced on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, by National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Andy Mothibi. Masemola faced four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in connection with the awarding of a SAPS medical examination contract to Medicare24 Tshwane District, a company linked to businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala. The charges alleged that Masemola, as the SAPS accounting officer, failed to act promptly after being alerted to irregularities in the contract, allowing approximately R50 million to be paid before it was stopped. The NPA stated that Mothibi invoked his constitutional and statutory powers to intervene after a review of the evidence gathered by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), a report from a Case Assessment Panel, and an assessment by an independent senior counsel.