The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to lift the precautionary suspension of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, allowing him to return to duty. This development comes at a critical time when South Africa urgently needs stable, effective and accountable leadership at the helm of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
SAFTU hopes that General Masemola’s return will contribute towards restoring public trust and confidence in the police service at a time when communities are gripped by violent crime, organised criminal networks, corruption and the growing threat of criminal infiltration of state institutions.
The withdrawal of criminal charges against General Masemola, following the National Director of Public Prosecutions’ conclusion that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution, represents a significant development. SAFTU maintains that precautionary measures must always be guided by fairness, due process and the material circumstances that justified their imposition.
We welcome General Masemola’s return to duty because justice must be accompanied by fairness, and precautionary suspension must never become punishment without trial. Where the circumstances that initially justified such a measure have fundamentally changed, the decision must be reconsidered without unnecessary delay.
However, SAFTU remains concerned about the questions surrounding the handling of the prosecution. The circumstances referred by the National Prosecuting Authority for further scrutiny must be subjected to an independent and thorough examination, and anyone found to have engaged in misconduct must be held accountable. The integrity of our criminal justice system depends not only on prosecuting wrongdoing but also on ensuring that prosecutions are properly grounded in evidence and conducted in accordance with the law.
South Africa cannot afford a police service distracted by prolonged leadership uncertainty while workers and communities continue to bear the devastating consequences of crime and insecurity. General Masemola’s return must therefore be accompanied by a renewed commitment to strengthening the capacity of SAPS, rooting out corruption, dismantling criminal syndicates and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
SAFTU further calls on the National Commissioner and the entire SAPS leadership to prioritise the safety and security of working-class communities, ensure the effective deployment and utilisation of police resources, and intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities from violence and criminality.
Our position is clear: accountability must go hand in hand with fairness, and justice must be applied equally to everyone, regardless of their position or status.
SAFTU welcomes General Masemola back to duty and expects the leadership of SAPS to devote its full attention to the urgent task of combating crime, corruption and organised criminal networks, while rebuilding a professional, effective and accountable police service that enjoys the confidence of the people it is mandated to protect.
A statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU by the General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
For media inquiries, contact the National Spokesperson at
Newton Masuku
newtonm@saftu.org.za
0661682157
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
