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Arrests of Senior SAPS Officials Deepen Integrity Crisis but Also Signal Hope for Accountability

 


MEDIA STATEMENT

 

Johannesburg, Saturday, 28 June 2025 — The arrest and subsequent release on bail of South African Police Service (SAPS) Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, along with several senior police officials this week on corruption-related charges, underscores a deepening integrity and leadership crisis within the upper echelons of the SAPS. One of the arrested officers, crime intelligence Chief Financial Officer Philani Lushaba — who is also facing charges in a separate, pending corruption case — was denied bail.

 

These developments strike at the very heart of public confidence in our criminal justice system and add to the growing concern about the fragility of the rule of law in our democratic dispensation.

 

When law enforcement leaders stand accused of violating the very laws they are entrusted to uphold, the public’s trust in the justice system is not only further eroded, it is profoundly undermined. The credibility and moral authority of the institutions charged with protecting society and enforcing justice are placed in serious doubt when internal rot is revealed at the highest levels.

 

Yet, amid the dismay, it is encouraging to note that these arrests were made possible by courageous and principled officials operating from within the very structures under scrutiny. Their bravery in acting against their own colleagues should serve as a clarion call for institutional renewal and reform. It signals a growing resolve within the criminal justice system to address internal weaknesses — particularly in the critical area of crime intelligence — and to affirm its commitment to professional ethics and constitutional accountability.

 

"This moment must be seized as an opportunity to bolster support for those dedicated officials who, often under threat and while navigating politically charged environments, continue to perform their duties with integrity, commitment, and fidelity to the Constitution. These individuals remain the backbone of public safety and security in South Africa," said Tebogo Khaas, chairpeson .of Public Interest SA.

 

"While we unequivocally condemn any police officials found to be engaged in criminal or unethical conduct, we equally affirm and honour the vast majority of officers who continue to serve diligently, often under challenging conditions, and who strive to restore public trust in policing and justice.

 

The current situation demands swift and transparent investigative and prosecutorial processes. Equally, it calls for decisive leadership and a coherent strategy to clean up SAPS senior management structures. Only through such actions can the SAPS begin to rebuild its credibility and reaffirm its constitutional mandate," added Khaas.


[Picture: Annemieke Thomaidis]


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Issued by:

Public Interest South Africa

Media & Communications: Bagaetsho Oteng

Tel: 084 566 5400


 

 
 
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