Pretoria: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced the withdrawal of charges against General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to South African Government News Agency, the National Director of Public Prosecution (NDPP), Advocate Andy Mothibi, issued instructions to withdraw the charges following a review of the case. The charges, initially filed by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), pertained to alleged violations of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
The NPA detailed that Advocate Mothibi utilized Section 179 (5) (c) of the Constitution, alongside Section 22(2) (b) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998, to evaluate the charges. These legal provisions allow the NDPP to intervene in prosecution processes that do not align with NPA policy directives, which mandate reasonable prospects of success for a trial.
The NDPP's examination of the evidence compiled by IDAC, as well as reports from the Case Assessment Panel and an independent Senior Counsel, led to the conclusion that there was no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution on the PFMA charges against General Masemola.
In light of this review, Advocate Mothibi directed the withdrawal of the charges, emphasizing that prosecuting a case without sufficient evidence is contrary to the public interest and the NPA's mandate.
The NPA also stated that the NDPP will report the case to the IDAC Judge and make the Case Assessment Panel report available to investigate any potential misconduct related to the prosecution team's handling of the evidence and case enrollment.
Representations from General Masemola's legal team were also reviewed by the NDPP, but the decision to withdraw the charges was based on prior assessments and reviews. The NPA confirmed that arrangements will be made for General Masemola to formally appear in court for the withdrawal of the case.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously placed General Masemola on precautionary suspension following his court appearance in April 2026. The NPA continues to evaluate cases as part of the IDAC Reset Programme.