Head of Crime Intelligence Dumisani Khumalo and five other suspects have been granted R10 000 bail each at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.
Khumalo and several other suspects were arrested at the O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday. They are facing fraud and corruption charges.
Some of the political parties in Parliament are calling for swift action following the arrest of Khumalo. They say his arrest is a sad day for South Africa.
Members of Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee, which does oversight of Crime Intelligence, have called for justice to be served.
Committee Chair Ian Camerson says the arrests are welcome.
“We really hope that this tip of the iceberg will lead to a bigger clean-up process of the senior management of the SAPS. It really is an indictment of the SAPS and really leaves the question to us about what is left of integrity in senior structures. We know that there are good strong career police members still in the senior echelons of the SAPS, but there is no doubt that organised crime in SA has been allowed to develop to the record highs that we are currently seeing in the country because of police members on senior levels, allegedly being involved in the serious offences.”
His committee colleagues agree.
MK Party’s David Skosana says, “We welcome the arrest, but I don’t think it’s proper that the matter was escalated to IDAC and IPID. The SAPS itself could have investigated the matter because, for me, it was a disciplinary matter. I heard the chair of the police portfolio committee, Ian Cameron, saying that the matter should have an inquiry, Section 34. I completely differ with that. This is a DC matter; that inquiry is not necessary because all these things are costly, indeed SAPS can have its own team investigating the matter. It was signed by the national commissioner, and he needs to account for it as well.”
Action SA’s Dereleen James says, “Where does this leave our vulnerable communities exposed to high levels of crime? Again, the trust between South Africans and SAPS is hugely compromised; again, this is an indicator of the corruption within SAPS. When crime intelligence, specifically this department, I cannot imagine how many gangsters go free, how many drugs are being trafficked, and our citizens are suffering. As Action SA, we will continue to call for accountability and disciplinary action within our police force.”
ACDP’s Kenneth Meshoe says, “He follows in the steps of his former boss, Richard Mdluli, who was also arrested for criminal activities. When are we going to win the war against crime in SA, remembering that in July 2021, we had the riots that started in in KZN, gone into Mpumalanga and also gauteng because we do not have crime intel division that is up to the task, so the acdp is calling on government, on the President himself, to take urgent steps, to make sure we don’t have criminal hiding in the division, so that when they get the opportunity, they will embarras us again.”
Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana says we would like to see swift justice, proper investigation in these matters, to ensure that justice is served. People who are involved in crime, wrongful appointments, and also covering up certain crimes, face the full might of the law. We would like to see this matter being properly investigated so that if they are guilty, they are convicted for the crimes that they are being alleged to have committed.”
NCC’s Fadiel Adams says, “It was necessary, it was needed. The rot in SAPS has gone on too long, and it’s gone on unfettered. As a matter of fact, we believe that certain politicians are in support of this rot because the dismantling of the south african police service is what is politically required. The NCC was instrumental and pivotal in these arrests. We want to compliment the IDAC for a swift, thorough investigation. We look forward to the court case, and hope these people are found guilty, that the judge will throw the book at them.”
The EFF releases a statement saying this arrest exposes the rot within the country’s law enforcement agencies, adding they are politically polluted. The party describes the arrest as a scandal of national significance.
Parties hope this case leads to an uncovering of other potential offences taking place within the SAPS ranks.
Cameron is calling for an urgent resolution by Parliament of an urgent skills audit in the SAPS.
