CAPE TOWN - Former deputy national police commissioner Francinah Vuma testified before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday.
Her appearance follows allegations of corruption and sexual harassment she has levelled against former Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Vuma was suspended in 2022 over her alleged role in the ANC’s 2017 Nasrec conference “device grabber” incident. She retired in January this year.
During her testimony, Vuma alleged that Cele interfered in investigations involving Lieutenant General Peter Jacobs, saying the minister was unhappy with the recommendations she had made.
Vuma told the committee she was once summoned to the minister’s official residence after investigators came to fetch her from home.
She said during the meeting, Cele questioned why she had recommended disciplinary action against Jacobs following the investigations she conducted.
These included a probe into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Lieutenant Ken Elkine, whose protection had allegedly been withdrawn, as well as an investigation into the alleged misuse of Crime Intelligence secret service funds to procure personal protective equipment.
Vuma said the recommendations were based on the evidence presented to her during the investigations.
“I tried to explain to the minister that it was not me personally making the decision,” she said. “It was the facts, statements and information that were presented to me that led to those recommendations.”