Puleng Dimpane was appointed as the Acting National Police Commissioner of South Africa. Her appointment follows the suspension of Fannie Masemola amid allegations of serious financial misconduct.
Dimpane joined the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 2007 as an internal auditor. She became Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at SAPS in 2018 and has nearly two decades of service within the organization.
Masemola faces charges under the Public Finance Management Act related to a tender worth 360 million rand. This situation has raised concerns about police corruption and accountability.
During her parliamentary testimony, Dimpane flagged irregular expenditure, including a 228 million rand tender awarded to Vusimuzi Matlala. She stated that SAPS lacks accountability and consequence management.
“These, to me, are not real consequence management because they do not deter this behaviour,” Dimpane said, referring to current oversight measures.
President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged issues within SAPS. He stated, “Yes, we do have too many people acting in positions, and we are going to address that specific issue.”
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is currently investigating these matters. Ramaphosa noted it is uncovering critical information to help rebuild the police service.
Dimpane revealed that irregular expenditure flagged for the 2024-25 financial year totaled 650 million rand. She emphasized that most irregularities stem from bids and tenders awarded by head office supply chain management.
Officials have not confirmed if further actions will be taken against Masemola or others involved. The investigation continues as observers watch closely for developments.
