Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, the suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner, has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to direct the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary ad hoc committee to probe alleged police corruption in the province.

Speaking at a press conference at Southern Sun Mbombela today, April 19, Manamela made explosive allegations against the national police commissioner (Nascom), General Fannie Masemola.

She claimed that Masemola, along with retired Mpumalanga deputy police commissioner for detective services, Major General Botsotso Moukangwe, accepted a R5m bribe from Kaizer Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung.

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According to Manamela, this was in return for Masemola ensuring that she would not return to work following her suspension.

Manamela alleged that Motaung feared that if she returned, she would revive the stalled case concerning the murder of Mbombela Speaker Jimmy Mohlala.

“Motaung was arrested in Mpumalanga for fraud and corruption relating to the building of Mbombela Stadium. This case was later linked with that of the assassination of Mohlala,” said Manamela.

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Mohlala, who was regarded as a whistle-blower on alleged corruption in the building of Mbombela Stadium, was shot and killed at his KaNyamazane home on January 4, 2009.
Manamela said Moukangwe had confessed to her about the R5m bribe and alleged that he shared 50% of it with Masemola.

Moukangwe dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.

“It’s simply the last kick of a dying horse. If l confessed to her that Nascom and l received the R5m, what stopped her from arresting me?” asked Moukangwe.
Manamela stated that the alleged corruption runs deep within the ranks of Mpumalanga law enforcement and requires intervention at the highest level of government.

She further urged Ramaphosa to appoint an independent body to investigate the claims, arguing that internal processes may not yield impartial outcomes.

“I am calling on the president of the Republic to institute an independent investigation into the rot that has reached the very top of our police service. I cannot be silent while those entrusted with national security are alleged to be on the payroll of criminal syndicates,” said Manamela.

According to her, the decision to speak out publicly follows what she described as persistent efforts to address concerns through internal channels, which she claims were ignored or suppressed. She maintained that her actions were in the interest of transparency and restoring public trust in the police.

Manamela’s most significant claims include that the original suspects in the fraud and corruption case related to the stadium tender have been out on bail since 2012. She alleges that this delay was intended to let the case ultimately collapse.

The investigation into the stadium tender was allegedly compromised by the unauthorised removal of dockets from the province. Manamela suggested that senior officers, including Colonel Alfred Monoko and Moukangwe, protected those involved by failing to investigate leads or account for the whereabouts of the dockets.

She claimed that Monoko transferred the dockets to the national office without her knowledge or consent.

Manamela’s term of office is due to end in about two months, and she remains on suspension after being accused of maladministration, corruption, theft, fraud and insulting her subordinates.

Attempts to obtain comment from national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Motaung and Monoko were unsuccessful.