Withdrawal of criminal complaint against General Dimpane

JOHANNESBURG | 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 - Public Interest SA has formally withdrawn its criminal complaint against Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane and has requested the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) to discontinue any investigation arising exclusively from that complaint.

The decision follows the formal withdrawal, in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, of all Public Finance Management Act (PFMA)-related charges against National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, ordered the withdrawal after reviewing the evidence gathered by IDAC, the report of a Case Assessment Panel and an opinion by independent Senior Counsel. The NDPP concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution against General Masemola on the PFMA charges.

Public Interest SA’s complaint against Lt Gen Dimpane was predicated on alleged statutory transgressions of the PFMA arising from substantially related circumstances.

It therefore follows that, once the prosecuting authority had subjected the underlying PFMA case to review and concluded that the evidential threshold for prosecution had not been met, Public Interest SA was obliged to reconsider whether it could reasonably persist with its complaint against Lt Gen Dimpane.

We have concluded that we cannot.

Tebogo Khaas, founder and chairperson of Public Interest SA states:

"Accountability cannot be pursued selectively. The same principles of fairness, consistency and respect for the rule of law that compel civil society to demand investigations where there is credible evidence must equally compel it to reconsider its position when subsequent developments materially alter the basis upon which a complaint was made."

"Our commitment has never been to the prosecution of particular individuals. It is to the proper application of the law and the integrity of public institutions.

We have therefore written to the Head of Investigations and Operations at IDAC, Mr Matthews Sesoko, formally withdrawing our complaint and requesting that any investigation instituted solely on the strength of that complaint be terminated."

Public Interest SA recognises that IDAC exercises an independent statutory mandate. Should it possess evidence independently obtained and unrelated to our complaint that warrants further investigation, the appropriate course remains a matter for IDAC to determine in accordance with the law.

Our decision should consequently not be interpreted as making any finding on evidence that may independently be in IDAC’s possession.

Public Interest SA will continue to advocate for accountability within the South African Police Service and across the public sector. Equally, we will continue to insist that accountability must be grounded in evidence, due process and fairness.

Accountability without fairness is not accountability. The rule of law demands both.

ENDS

Issued by: Public Interest SA