President Cyril Ramaphosa inspects members of the Anti-Gang Unit in Hanover Park, Cape Town, in November 2018. (Photo: EPA / Nic Bothma) A police captain attached to the Protection and Security Services has been suspended for allegedly pocketing millions of rands and lying about it, saying it was needed for President Cyril Ramaphosa's protectors.
This is yet another blow to the South African Police Service (SAPS), which has been subjected to unprecedented turbulence over the past several months.
Daily Maverick first reported on the matter last Friday, 27 March 2026, revealing that an internal and criminal investigation had been launched into payments totalling R3-million.
It was understood that the payments were red-flagged on the police finance system earlier in March and were linked to the Protection and Security Services unit, based in Tshwane.
A police officer is believed to have lodged a criminal complaint over the matter.
On Wednesday, 1 April, the SAPS announced an update on the case.
‘Manipulated the system’
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that “an internal investigation uncovered discrepancies and suspicious transactions” in the Protection and Security Services division.
She said the suspended captain was attached to the division’s finance section and allegedly used his official access to the SAPS financial system to withdraw millions of rands.
“An investigation has uncovered that he manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the [guise] that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services,” Mathe said.
“Further investigations uncovered that the money was not received by the close protectors, but booked out in lump sum cash amounts by the member.”
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Read the South African Police Service’s Facebook post here.
Daily Maverick has ascertained that some sources linked to policing are curious about why the captain was suspended and not arrested.
A SAPS statement on Wednesday reiterated that “no close protector attached to the President, Deputy President, Ministers or Deputy Ministers are implicated in this case”.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, meanwhile, applauded the Financial Management Division “for identifying and uprooting criminality within our ranks and has assigned the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate the matter”.
The SAPS assured the public that it would not tolerate fraud and corruption involving its officers.
Cops and court cases
Corruption among police officers is at the core of South Africa’s law enforcement scandal that erupted last year after allegations that a drug cartel had infiltrated the criminal justice system, politics and private security.
This resulted in suspensions, and two official hearings were established to investigate the accusations.
Last week, the scandal ramped up yet again when 12 senior police officers were arrested over a dodgy R360-million police tender awarded two years ago to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare 24 Tshwane District.
Matlala, who faces several criminal charges, has been accused of being a drug cartel member and of forging corrupt relationships with various police officials.
Masemola is now also embroiled in the Matlala dodgy tender saga.
Last week, he was served a summons ordering him to appear in court on 21 April in connection with the Matlala tender.
Masemola has since said that he has not been criminally charged. He is of the view that he has not done anything wrong and followed processes.
It is not clear if President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to suspend Masemola. DM