By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The suspended Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Daphney Manamela has launched a scathing attack on the national commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Manamela was speaking at a media briefing held at Southern Sun in Mbombela on Sunday, April 19.
She said her suspension is a result of political interference in the province. She accused Masemola of repeatedly contacting her over operational matters.
“The national commissioner called me more than 15 times, he wanted to use the chopper, which he was not entitled to at the time,” she said, adding that pressure from head office escalated her internal challenges.
She says she is speaking out now because she has tried every internal channel – including writing to the Minister of Police and attempting to meet Masemola multiple times – without success.
She was appointed Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner on 29 June 2021. She has faced two previous suspensions – in 2023 and again in 2024 – which she successfully challenged in court. Her latest suspension came on 14 June 2024 while she was addressing the provincial legislature. She said it happened because she tried to enforce discipline and root out corruption.
Manamela further accused former police Minister Bheki Cele of attempting, on many occasions, to interfere with SAPS work in the province.
She accused Cele of interfering in her duties, alleging that he showed undue interest in factional battles within the Mpumalanga African National Congress (ANC) and in government tenders.
She claimed that Cele pressured her to arrest a Mpumalanga MEC during the ANC’s January 8 celebrations, an allegation that, if substantiated, could point to political interference in policing.
Mbombela Stadium Tender
Manamela claimed that Masemola personally intervened to prevent the arrest of Bobby Motaung, the football manager of Kaizer Chiefs, in connection with the murder of former Mbombela municipality speaker Jimmy Mohlala.
Manamela alleged that a R5 million bribe was paid to ensure Motaung was never arrested for his involvement in Mohlala’s assassination.
Mohlala was gunned down after exposing corruption linked to a R1.2 billion tender tied to the construction of Mbombela Stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
She claimed retired Major General BTO Moukangwe confessed that he and Masemola received R5 million.
The alleged bribe was to make sure she never returns to work – because reopening certain dockets could link them to the 2009 murder of Mohlala.
She claims Colonel Alfred Monoko, the original investigating officer, deliberately stalled the case, misled the court and even took a R300 000 bribe to kill an attempted murder case against one of the accused.
Hillary Gardee’s murder
In another startling revelation, Manamela told the media that a suspect in a high-profile murder case had expressed willingness to confess to the killing of the daughter of Godrich Gardee, a senior member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). However, she alleged that a senior police official opposed the move, raising further concerns about obstruction of justice within the ranks.
Hillary Gardee went missing on 29 April. She was last seen at Nelspruit Plaza Super Spar in the central business district with her three-year-old adopted child.
The search for the missing Hillary Gardee ended in tragedy when her body was found in bushes near the Sabie/Lydenburg Road (R40) days after she went missing.
Philemon Lukhele, 47, Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa, 39, and Albert Mduduzi Gama, 52 were accused with Gardee’s murder. They faced charges of murder, rape, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Manamela did not present evidence during the briefing but indicated that documentation supporting her claims would be submitted to relevant authorities. None of the individuals implicated in the allegations have publicly responded at the time of publication, and the claims remain unproven.
She pointed that Hlabirwa Rassie Nkuna confessed to Mpumalanga police that he shot and killed Hillary.
The revelations are likely to intensify scrutiny on the leadership of the SAPS and could prompt calls for an independent investigation into alleged corruption and political interference within law enforcement structures.
SAPS spokesperson, Atlenda Mathe says allegations made by Manamela on SAPS officials and Police Commissioner must be investigated. She cautioned the public not to speculate.
She suggests independent bodies or the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry could be engaged.
Meanwhile ActionSA called for an independent and transparent investigation into allegations made by Manamela, which point to possible corruption, political interference, and the protection of criminal elements within the South African Police Service.
If proven true, these claims raise serious concerns about the integrity of policing in Mpumalanga and the ability of law enforcement to effectively combat crime.
Given the gravity of these allegations, such an investigation must be conducted outside of SAPS structures and must have the authority to uncover the truth and ensure accountability at all levels, including senior leadership where implicated, the provincial leader Thoko Mashiane said.