Acting Mpumalanga police commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi has ordered the immediate removal of all photographs of suspended police chief Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela from all SAPS stations in the province.

Manamela was suspended in February 2023 after a forensic report was tabled detailing serious allegations of, among others, maladministration, theft, receiving state-funded gifts and illegal promotions of police officials.
Lowvelder earlier reported how Manamela took the police to task about her suspension in the labour court. Her suspension, which was approved by the now-suspended national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, was set aside on technical shortcomings.

Read: Manamela asked to back SAPS corruption allegations with evidence

Legal action delays fitness hearing
In June 2024, she was once again suspended. Since then, there has been a flurry of court actions after a panel was appointed to establish if she was fit to serve as a police commissioner.
Her hearing was scheduled to start during the first week of May, but further legal action caused the case to be delayed once again.

Also read: Retraction and apology to Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela

Manamela’s contract as provincial commissioner ended at the end of June, and it remains unclear whether she has resigned from the police. Lowvelder attempted to obtain comment from Manamela, but she had not responded by the time of publication.

Questions sent to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe were unanswered by the time of publication.