South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola over a $21 million contract controversy, intensifying the pressure on the government to address corruption just months before the 2024 general elections.
The suspension follows allegations of irregularities in the procurement of a multi-million-dollar contract for the police service. Masemola, who has led the South African Police Service (SAPS) since 2022, is now under investigation.
The move underscores the Ramaphosa administration's effort to demonstrate its commitment to fighting graft, a key issue that has eroded public trust and could influence voter sentiment in the upcoming polls. Opposition parties have seized on the scandal, accusing the president of failing to root out corruption within his own ranks.