The Madlanga Commission has heard that suspended national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola was allegedly targeted during an investigation involving alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
IDAC prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy made the claims during the final day of her testimony on Friday. She said investigators had found no evidence linking Masemola to the matter.
Ramsamy was testifying about the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s (IDAC) investigation into a multi-million-rand police health services tender awarded to a company owned by Matlala.
She said former IDAC head Andrea Johnson was determined to find a connection between Masemola and Matlala. Ramsamy also told the commission that investigators were instructed to look into Masemola’s daughter.
Madlanga Commission Hears Masemola Was Investigated Without Evidence
Ramsamy said Johnson instructed members of the IDAC team to search for information that could be used against Masemola. She said this happened despite investigators having no evidence at the time linking the suspended police commissioner to Matlala.
Ramsamy said she became particularly concerned when Masemola’s daughter was also brought into the investigation.
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“Why would they want to look for links with General Masemola’s daughter or investigate general masemola insofar as Mr Matlala is concerned when there was absolutely nothing pointing to any links with General Masemola? It was clear (at least to me) that General Masemola was a target and the rules will be broken to catch him by any means necessary.”
IDAC later charged Masemola with allegedly contravening the Public Finance Management Act. The commission previously heard claims that the charges did not make sense and were created in an attempt to embarrass the national police commissioner.
IDAC Prosecutor Questions Masemola Investigation
Ramsamy said investigators were told to search Matlala’s electronic devices for possible links to Masemola and his daughter. She maintained that there was no indication that Masemola was connected to Matlala at the time. She also said the IDAC investigation had not identified Masemola as a suspect.
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“It was clear, at least to me, that General Masemola was a target and the rules would be broken to catch him by any means necessary. All the instructions given by Advocate Johnson on that day did not sit well with me.”
The Madlanga Commission has since adjourned proceedings to allow Witness P to testify behind closed doors. The witness is expected to give evidence about the alleged discovery of a clandestine counter-intelligence operation linked to a drug gang in Durban.
