“Just make sure that when you try to kill me, you don’t miss.” This was one of the statements made by suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, during a press conference at Southern Sun Mbombela on Sunday, April 12.

Manamela was responding to a journalist’s question about whether she feared for her life after she accused senior police officials and businesspeople of illegal acts, including a multi-million-rand bribery claim, reports Lowvelder.

Manamela’s allegations named national police commissioner (Nascom), General Fannie Masemola; retired Mpumalanga deputy police commissioner (detective services) Major General Botsotso Moukangwe; Ehlanzeni police district commissioner, Major General Dorah Xaba; and Kaizer Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung, among others.

“On February 4, 2025, Major General Moukangwe allegedly made a confession that the amount of R5m was paid to him and General Masemola by businessman Bobby Mosiane Motaung to make sure that I don’t return to work,” said Manamela. Lowvelder could not independently verify this claim.

The denial by Moukangwe

Moukangwe denied having received money from the Kaizer Chiefs boss, saying he did not even know him personally. “I never received any money from Motaung and I never made any admission or confession to anyone, including General Manamela. Manamela has been suspended due to her own misconduct, and all the people she mentioned during her media briefing are witnesses against her, including myself,” said Moukangwe.

He added: “I believe a general like Manamela should know that if someone makes a confession or admission to have committed an offence, you deduce that in writing and effect an arrest immediately. Why did she not arrest me for the alleged confession? The answer is because it never happened.”

Several attempts to get comment from Motaung proved fruitless.

ALSO READ: Provincial police headquarters in Mbombela burgled

 Jimmy Mohlala’s assassination

Manamela further alleged that Motaung and his co -accused feared that if she returned to work, their case dockets would be reopened and they would be arrested, as she alleged, “they were responsible for Jimmy Mohlala’s death.”

Mohlala, Speaker of the Mbombela Local Municipality Council, was fatally shot outside his KaNyamazane home on January 4, 2009. His son was wounded during the shooting. Mohlala had been publicly vocal about alleged corruption in the awarding of multi-million-rand tenders for the construction of the R1.2b Mbombela Stadium, one of the stadiums earmarked for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

On August 15, 2012, Motaung and his business partner, Herbert Theledi, were arrested, together with Chris Grib, the former CEO of Lefika Emerging Equity, which had won a sub-contract tender for the stadium’s construction.

The link between the Mbombela Stadium tender scandal and Mohlala’s assassination

During Manamela’s press conference, Lowvelder asked her if Motaung was instrumental in Mohlala’s killing.

“When I presented my facts I said that the fraud charges against Motaung were interlinked with the case of Mohlala’s murder,” she responded.

Lowvelder could not independently verify this allegation. Manamela alleges that the stadium tender fraud investigation was compromised by missing dockets and senior officers shielding suspects.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner alleges R5m bribery plot

Nascom claims he was not briefed on Mohlala’s case

Speaking on behalf of Masemola, national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe denied any interaction between the Nascom and Moukangwe over Mohlala’s death.

“During the time that Mohlala was killed, the current Nascom was serving as the deputy provincial commissioner, responsible for policing in KZN. [General Manamela] has never been a detective and [is urged] to provide evidence of her allegations. General Masemola also places it on record that he has never been briefed by Manamela or Moukangwe on the murder case of Mohlala,” said Mathe.

The Hillary Gardee murder and alleged interference

Manamela stated that in April 2022, Hillary Gardee [daughter of EFF deputy president Godrich Gardee] was shot and killed. According to her, three suspects were arrested, while one person of interest, Rassie Nkune, remained at large.

Manamela accused Xaba of helping Nkune evade capture, adding that she [Xaba] told Rassie that she was the investigating officer, and he should not communicate with anyone other than herself. Manamela said this was a lie.

“[Xaba] was quite aware at the time that Nkune was a wanted suspect, but she let him run,” said Manamela.

Xaba was reluctant to comment and stated that she is not a police spokesperson. She did say that Manamela is a liar and should bring evidence through Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act, that will reveal phone records.

ALSO READ: Hillary Gardee’s family opens interference case against police in Mbombela

Hillary’s family lays charge and calls for Madlanga Commission to subpoena Manamela

Meanwhile Hillary’s family has sent a letter to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry demanding that Manamela be called to testify under oath.

“Summons Lieutenant General Manamela to testify under oath and to present the full dossier and supporting evidence underlying her allegations. The allegations, if proven, disclose conduct that strikes at the heart of the rule of law and the integrity of the criminal justice system,” reads the letter, signed by the Gardee family’s lawyers, TG Mbatha Attorneys.

Lowvelder is in possession of a copy of the letter, which was accompanied by a link to the complainant’s 45-page dossier to enforce disclosure. Over and above this, the Gardee family laid charges against Moukangwe, Xaba and other police officers at the Nelspruit Police Station on Tuesday April 21, regarding alleged interference in the investigation of Hillary’s assassination.

Manamela thanks Ramaphosa for establishing the Madlanga Commission

During the press conference, Manamela thanked President Cyril Ramaphosa for establishing the Madlanga Commission and asked him to order an independent probe into police corruption in Mpumalanga as it “reached the very top of our police service.”

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said people with information of such a nature should take it to the authorised commission.

“The president has already set up the Madlanga Commission to deal with such issues. Anybody who has any information that could be helpful to the work of the commission should approach the commission with that information,” said Magwenya in response

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