The MK Party has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to lift the suspension of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and restore him to his position following the withdrawal of criminal charges against him.
The party says there is no longer a basis for keeping Masemola out of office after the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court formally withdrew the charges against him on Tuesday.
The National Prosecuting Authority withdrew the four Public Finance Management Act charges after National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution.
Masemola had been suspended by Ramaphosa after he was charged in connection with the controversial R360 million SAPS-Medicare24 tender awarded to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company.
The MK Party is now calling on Ramaphosa to terminate the suspension “as soon as practically possible”, arguing that the criminal case that formed the basis of the suspension has fallen away.
However, the withdrawal of the charges does not automatically reinstate Masemola. His suspension is a separate presidential decision, and the President must still decide whether to lift it.
The NPA has also referred the circumstances surrounding the prosecution to the IDAC judge for further scrutiny, including whether there was any misconduct in the assessment, enrolment and handling of the case.
For now, the question of whether Masemola returns to his position as national police commissioner rests with the President.
