Political pressure is mounting on the country’s top law enforcement leadership after former EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi called for urgent action from President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Ndlozi has publicly urged the president to place National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola on suspension and install KwaZulu-Natal police head Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as acting national commissioner with immediate effect.
His comments come as Masemola faces a legal challenge tied to a R360 million SAPS tender involving businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, with Ndlozi insisting the issue should not be viewed as outright corruption but rather as a violation of the Public Finance Management Act.
Despite that distinction, Ndlozi warned that the developments could signal something deeper, suggesting the situation may be part of a wider attempt to disrupt ongoing efforts to tackle organised crime within the police service.
Taking to social media, he did not hold back, writing ‘APPOINT GEN. NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI AS ACTING NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER NOW!’ as he called for swift intervention at the highest level.
APPOINT GEN. NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI AS ACTING NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER NOW!
Masemola is not being accused of CORRUPTION! IDAC is dragging him to court over PFMA violation.
The objective is to have Ramaphosa remove him. Once removed, the hope is that Khumalo & Mkhwanazi will…
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 26, 2026
He further claimed that removing Masemola could leave key investigations vulnerable, adding ‘Once removed, the hope is that Khumalo & Mkhwanazi will be exposed. No one protecting their work anymore,’ pointing to fears that senior figures working on sensitive cases could be left without backing.
Ndlozi also drew links between the current situation and previous structural changes within SAPS, including the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team under former police minister Senzo Mchunu, which he believes weakened efforts against organised criminal networks.
According to him, these moves form part of a broader pattern aimed at undermining critical investigations, describing it as an effort ‘to render criminal investigations of organised gangs and their collaborators’ ineffective.
He has since called on Ramaphosa to step in decisively, stressing the importance of protecting the integrity of the justice system, saying ‘Ramaphosa has a duty to defend the credibility of the criminal justice system!’
Ndlozi has also extended his demands beyond the police commissioner, calling for the suspension of the head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, reinforcing his stance with the warning ‘The criminals MUST NOT WIN!’
Masemola is expected to appear in court on 21 April 2026, while the Presidency has indicated that the matter will be handled through the proper legal channels as scrutiny intensifies around the leadership of SAPS.
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