Bongani Hans|Published
Public Protector (PP) Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has approached the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to probe serious allegations of misconduct against Mpumalanga police officers and their national bosses after she declined to investigate them herself.
On April 20, ActionSA in Mpumalanga wrote to Gcaleka requesting an investigation into allegations made by suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Lt-General Daphney Manamela, during her media briefing on April 19.
Stating the reason for referring the matter to Madlanga, the PP stated that it has the right to decline investigating a complaint that is already being handled by another public body to avoid duplication of efforts and resources.
In a letter to ActionSA on Thursday, the PP’s representative in Mpumalanga, Advocate Carina van Eeden, stated that Section 6 of the Public Protector Act provides that the PP has a right to decline to investigate a matter that is already dealt with by another public body.
ActionSA Mpumalanga chairperson and MPL, Thoko Mashiane, approached the Public Protector on April 20, requesting an investigation into allegations that the commission is already handling. These allegations involve political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, including the Mpumalanga SAPS.
“On 30 April 2026, the Madlanga Commission requested the submission of an affidavit and supporting documentation from Ms Manamela following the above-mentioned media briefing.
“After careful consideration of all relevant factors, information obtained during our preliminary enquiry, we have referred and handed over your (Mashiane) complaint to the Madlanga Commission for further investigation to avoid parallel investigations which would lead to a duplication of efforts and resources,” said Van Eeden’s letter to Mashiane.
Among the police bosses that Gcaleka referred to the commission are Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and National Police Commission General Fannie Masemola, who are both suspended.
When approached for comment on behalf of Mchunu, Masemola, and other implicated police officers, national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe referred the questions to Madlanga’s spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, who has not yet responded.
Manamela’s alleged sour relationship with Masemola is evident in the Pretoria High Court judgment delivered on May 18.
The court ruled against Manamela’s application to hold Masemola in contempt of a court order granted on October 11, 2024. She also wanted her boss sentenced to a suspended imprisonment period and sought to stop him from continuing to establish a board of inquiry into her alleged misconduct that led to her suspension.
The PP’s request to the commission’s chairperson, retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, also featured allegations Manamela made against former police minister Bheki Cele, whom she accused of politically interfering with police investigations.
PP spokesperson Mothebe Mokgatlhe has not yet responded to questions sent to him on Saturday, as he said he would consult with the PP’s investigating team.
According to the PP’s letter to Mashiane, the Public Protector wants Madlanga to investigate allegations that Cele, while he was the minister, Mchunu, and Masemola ignored Manamela’s request for their intervention into the unprofessional behaviour of her police officers.
Manamela was suspended while taking action against her juniors, who were allegedly involved in extortion and corruption.
The Public Protector talked about Cele’s political interference in criminal case investigations involving politicians and in the murder of Hillary Gardee, the daughter of EFF deputy president Godrich Gardee.
“Mr Cele had, during the ANC’s January 8th celebrations in 2024, pushed for the arrest of a former Mpumalanga Member of the Executive Council (MEC) without any evidence and became upset when she (Manamela) did not comply.
“Mr Cele interfered in the Hillary Gargee murder investigation,” read Van Eeden’s letter.
Cele has also not responded to questions sent to him on Saturday via WhatsApp, and also did not answer his cellphone.
Van Eeden also wants the commission, which will probably complete its work at the end of August, to investigate allegations that Masemola protected officials linked to bribes involving Kaizer Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung.
Manamela alleged that Motaung paid a bribe of R5 million to a senior officer in charge of detective services, whose name cannot be divulged as she could not be located for comment, so that the officer could not return to work.
“The aim of the bribe was to prevent her from reopening the 2009 murder docket of former City of Mbombela Speaker, Mr Jimmy Mohlala, and the Mbombela stadium fraud and corruption cases,” said Van Eeden.
Motaung also did not respond to questions sent to Chiefs’ corporate communications manager, Vina Maphosa.
Mashiane welcomed the referral of her complaint to the Madlanga Commission, saying it confirms that these matters warrant serious national scrutiny through the commission, which she said is an appropriate constitutional body.
“These allegations, which include claims of political interference, corruption, intimidation, and manipulation of criminal investigations within the Mpumalanga SAPS department, are deeply concerning and strike at the heart of public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
“ActionSA believes that these allegations are far too serious to be ignored, especially as they involve claims relating to organised criminal syndicates, interference in sensitive investigations, and the alleged abuse of state institutions by individuals in positions of power,” she said.
Mashiane also called for implicated parties to cooperate fully with the commission, the protection of whistle-blowers and individuals who will give evidence, and for those found to have undermined the integrity of the criminal justice system to be held accountable, “regardless of political position or rank”.
Bongani Hans
iol.co.za
