MEDIA BRIEFING STATEMENT

Following the Lodgement of a Criminal Complaint Against Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane

EMBARGO: 11:00 AM | 9 July 2026 

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for joining us.

Earlier today, Public Interest SA formally lodged a criminal complaint with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), requesting the investigation of Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, for alleged contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

This is not a decision taken lightly.

Public Interest SA is guided by a simple but fundamental constitutional principle: no person, irrespective of rank, office or status, is above the law.

At the outset, let me emphasise that today's action is not a finding of guilt.

Public Interest SA has neither the mandate nor the authority to determine criminal liability. That responsibility rests exclusively with the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and, ultimately, our courts.

Our responsibility, as a public interest organisation committed to accountability, ethical governance and the rule of law, is to place credible evidence before the appropriate law enforcement authorities where we believe there are reasonable grounds to suspect that criminal offences may have been committed.

BACKGROUND

Today's complaint arises from the SAPS Medicare24 Tshwane contract.

SAPS entered into an agreement valued at approximately R360 million for employee medical health services. Following investigations into procurement irregularities, the agreement was cancelled. However, before its termination, approximately R48 million had already been paid to the service provider.

The complaint is supported by documentary evidence, including Lieutenant General Dimpane's sworn testimony before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, a copy of which has been furnished to the DPCI  as part of the evidentiary bundle accompanying our criminal complaint.

In that sworn testimony, Lieutenant General Dimpane confirmed that, as SAPS Chief Financial Officer, her responsibilities included oversight of financial management, internal controls, internal audit, risk management, audit committee matters and combined assurance processes.

She further confirmed that she became aware of concerns relating to the Medicare24 Tshwane contract after the suspended Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu had requested National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, since placed on precautionary suspension, to conduct an Internal Audit and Risk Management review.

During  her appearance before the parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating allegations by Kwa-Zulu Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Lieutenant General Dimpane testified that she was briefed by members of the review team while that audit was underway.

Despite those circumstances, payments amounting to approximately R48 million were processed and effected before the review had been concluded.

It is these facts that form the basis of the criminal complaint.

THE LEGAL BASIS

The complaint requests the DPCI to investigate whether Lieutenant General Dimpane, in her capacity as Chief Financial Officer at the relevant time, failed to discharge statutory obligations imposed by the Public Finance Management Act.

Specifically, the complaint seeks investigation into potential contraventions of sections 38, 44, 45, 81 and 86 of the PFMA. These provisions regulate financial management, delegated authority, internal controls, financial misconduct and criminal liability.

The complaint alleges that there are reasonable grounds to investigate whether statutory duties designed to safeguard public funds were not fulfilled, notwithstanding known procurement concerns and an ongoing internal audit process.

THE BROADER CONTEXT

This complaint must also be understood within the broader context of the ongoing criminal proceedings arising from the SAPS Medicare24 contract.

At present, 16 primary accused are standing trial in connection with the alleged irregular awarding of that contract. Those accused comprise 12 senior SAPS officers, including General Masemola, and two company directors.

Despite serving as the SAPS Chief Financial Officer during the relevant period and bearing statutory responsibility for financial management, internal controls and risk management, Lieutenant General Dimpane has not been charged in those proceedings.

Public Interest SA does not seek to interfere with those criminal proceedings, nor do we express any view regarding the guilt or innocence of any accused person currently before the courts.

Those matters must be determined through due process.

However, we believe there are reasonable grounds to question whether the role and statutory responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer at the relevant time have received appropriate criminal scrutiny.

Today's complaint requests the Hawks to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish criminal liability under the PFMA. It is not an attempt to duplicate the existing prosecution, but rather to address what appears to be a gap in accountability.

WHAT WE HAVE REQUESTED

Public Interest SA has requested the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation to register and prioritise this criminal complaint and to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of Lieutenant General Dimpane.

As part of our complaint, we have furnished the DPCI with Lieutenant General Dimpane's sworn parliamentary testimony, together with supporting documentary evidence.

We have requested investigators to obtain all relevant financial records, system authorisation logs, internal audit reports and any additional evidence necessary to determine whether offences under the Public Finance Management Act or any other applicable legislation have been committed.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This matter is about much more than one individual.

It concerns the integrity of public financial management within one of South Africa's most important constitutional institutions.

The Chief Financial Officer occupies a critical position within any public institution. Parliament has imposed clear statutory duties upon officials entrusted with the management and protection of public resources.

Those duties exist to ensure that taxpayers' money is safeguarded and that financial controls function effectively.

Where credible questions arise regarding compliance with those statutory obligations, they deserve independent investigation.

Public confidence in the South African Police Service depends not only on its ability to combat crime, but equally on its commitment to accountability, transparency and sound governance.

OUR APPEAL

We therefore call upon the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation to investigate this matter thoroughly, independently and without fear, favour or prejudice.

We further encourage any person with information relevant to this matter to cooperate fully with investigators.

Public Interest SA will likewise cooperate fully with the investigation and, should further evidence emerge, reserves the right to supplement the complaint or lodge additional charges and individuals where appropriate.

UPDATE ON PREVIOUS CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

Before I conclude, I wish to provide an update on another matter previously referred by Public Interest SA to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

On 28 April this year, we lodged a criminal complaint against the Head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Advocate Andrea Johnson and her husband Mr Junaid Johnson under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (PRECCA), requesting that allegations concerning their conduct be investigated.

On Tuesday, we received an official update from the investigating officer that the preliminary investigation has been concluded and that the matter has been, or will shortly be, referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for a prosecutorial decision.

We welcome this development.

It demonstrates that complaints submitted by members of the public and civil society organisations are capable of progressing through the criminal justice system where investigators are satisfied that the evidence warrants prosecutorial consideration.

We make no comment on the merits of that matter, nor do we seek to influence the independent decision of the National Prosecuting Authority. That decision must be taken objectively, based solely on the evidence and the law.

The update does, however, reinforce an important principle. When credible evidence is placed before the appropriate authorities, it should be investigated professionally, impartially and without fear, favour or prejudice. We have every confidence that today's complaint will receive the same independent and objective consideration.

It is important to emphasise that public confidence in the NPA depends not only on its ability to prosecute criminal matters, but equally on its unwavering commitment to accountability, transparency and sound governance.

The integrity and fitness for office of prosecutors, particularly those tasked with investigating corruption, are fundamental to the credibility of the criminal justice system.

Just as prosecutors are expected to pursue justice without fear, favour or prejudice, they must themselves be held to the highest standards of ethical conduct, independence and accountability.

Public confidence is sustained not only by successful prosecutions, but by the assurance that those entrusted with prosecutorial authority are themselves beyond reproach.

CONCLUSION

South Africa's constitutional democracy is founded on accountability.

The rule of law requires that public officials entrusted with significant authority and responsibility are held to the highest legal and ethical standards.

The greater the public office, the greater the responsibility.

The greater the responsibility, the greater the accountability.

Today's complaint is therefore not about personalities. It is about ensuring that our public institutions operate with integrity, that public funds are protected, and that every public official is subject to the same legal standard.

No office should confer immunity from scrutiny, and no allegation supported by credible evidence should be beyond the reach of independent investigation.

Public Interest SA will continue to use every lawful mechanism available to promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law in South Africa.

Thank you.

I will now take your questions.