The Mpumalanga SAPS will be under the control and command of an acting provincial commissioner from today.

This comes after Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela was suspended for the second time in 18 months, by General Fannie Masemola, the national police commissioner (Nascom).

Lowvelder was reliably informed that the letter of her suspension was served to her around midday yesterday.

Last year, she was suspended on the same day the premier of Mpumalanga was sworn in. Yesterday, ironically, was the day the new premier was elected.

Manamela has been in the firing line for months, but everything came to a head four weeks ago when Masemola informed her of his intention to suspend her again.

Numerous allegations were made against her in a letter of which Lowvelder has a copy.

Brigadier Anthea Mathe, the national police spokesperson, said it is an internal matter and will not be discussed in a public domain.

Despite informing her that the matter is not about an ordinary police officer, but the most senior police officer in the province, she refused to admit or deny the suspension.

By the time of publication, it could not be established who will be appointed as acting police commissioner.