‘I’m Not Here For Revenge’: Fannie Masemola Returns To Lead SAPS

“I’m not here for revenge,” National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola told senior police officials as he returned to lead the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Monday, 19 October 2026.

After months away from his position, Masemola used his first day back to call for an end to internal divisions and leadership tensions within the organisation. He said the priority must now be fighting crime, improving police service delivery and rebuilding public confidence.

Fannie Masemola Returns To Lead SAPS After Suspension

The Fannie Masemola reinstatement follows the withdrawal of charges against him linked to a R360 million SAPS health-services tender awarded to Medicare24.

Masemola was placed on precautionary suspension in April 2026 by mutual agreement with President Cyril Ramaphosa after appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on allegations of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

The National Director of Public Prosecutions instructed that the charges be withdrawn in September, with the court formalising the withdrawal on 22 September.

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The Presidency confirmed on Friday that Masemola would resume his full duties on Monday. Addressing senior police leadership and the media, he made it clear that he wanted to focus on the future rather than revisit the events surrounding his suspension. He said the organisation could not fulfil its mandate if internal disagreements were allowed to undermine its work.

“What has happened has happened. I will not allow the past to distract us from moving forward.”

Masemola Rejects Revenge As He Calls For Police Unity

The SAPS commissioner said rebuilding relationships within the service would be central to his return.

He acknowledged that disagreements were inevitable in any organisation but stressed that professional conduct and shared objectives had to take precedence over personal interests. He also said differences should be handled through established processes rather than allowed to weaken the police service.

“We cannot build a strong police service on divisions, mistrust or competing personal interests. We must build it on professional solidarity, effective leadership, mutual respect and a shared commitment to our constitutional mandate.”

Asked whether the controversy surrounding his suspension, prosecution and testimony before commissions of inquiry had damaged the credibility of SAPS leadership, Masemola said the focus should be on moving forward. He maintained that the organisation needed to learn from the past while bringing its leadership together to serve the public.

“You cannot erase history. What has happened has happened,” he said.

“But what we need to focus on now is how we move forward as an organisation, how we bring together the leadership of SAPS and work together serving the people of this country.”

Masemola also rejected suggestions that he owed the public further explanations, arguing that the legal process had unfolded openly.

“I don’t think I owe anyone anything. Everything happened publicly, and people have seen what has happened.”

Fannie Masemola Puts Crime Fighting And Public Trust First

The Fannie Masemola return to SAPS comes with a focus on stabilising the organisation and improving its response to crime. He said priorities included strengthening frontline policing, improving resource allocation, recruiting officers and ensuring police stations responded effectively to the communities they served.

He also committed to considering relevant recommendations from recent inquiries involving the police service.

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“Our most important measure of success is the experience of the public at a police station and in communities where they need immediate assistance,” Masemola said.

While acknowledging resource constraints, the commissioner said available resources needed to be directed towards areas where they were most urgently required. He said reforms should strengthen transparency and accountability within SAPS while improving its operational capacity. His message to senior officers was that leadership should focus on delivering results rather than internal conflict.

“The task before us is to unite the organisation, strengthen frontline capacity, fight crime decisively and rebuild public confidence,” he said.

During the interim period, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane served as acting national commissioner. Ramaphosa thanked Dimpane for her service, describing her contribution to the role as one performed with distinction.