Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane
JOHANNESBURG - The official opposition, the MK Party, said it is troubled by the appointment of Puleng Dimpane as the acting national police commissioner.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension.
The move follows Masemola being charged with violations of the Public Finance Management Act.
The party believes the top post in the SAPS should go to a career policeman, while Dimpane has a background in accounting.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela has criticised the President’s approach to addressing crime, saying it reduces a complex policing crisis to issues of finance and PFMA compliance.
READ: Masemola placed on suspension, Dimpane appointed acting police commissioner
He questioned the appointment of the new acting national police commissioner, arguing she is not a career police officer and lacks core operational experience.
Ndhlela said her background in internal auditing and economic affairs does not equip her with the necessary expertise in counterintelligence and crime intelligence.
READ: From Ad Hoc witness to SAPS top job: Who is Puleng Dimpane?
He further warned that the police service is facing deep-rooted challenges, including alleged links between officers and criminal cartels, which require specialised operational leadership.
ActionSA has also raised concerns about Dimpane's appointment.
Dimpane comes into the role having previously been the Chief Financial Officer of the SAPS since 2018.
The DA's Ian Cameron, who is the Chairperson of Parliament's Police Portfolio Committee, said that, unfortunately, the current leadership of the SAPS is mostly tainted by corruption.
RISE Mzansi reiterated its call for a total reset of police leadership and management.
The party said South Africa requires a "Top Cop" who is a professional servant of the people.
"Our focus must remain on restoring public safety through a SAPS that is professionally led, thoroughly vetted, and anchored in ethics," RISE Mzansi said in a statement.
Masemola appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court over his alleged role in the awarding of a R360-million SAPS tender to Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala.
State prosecutor Santhos Manilall told the court that Masemola should appear alongside Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and others.
The matter is back in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on 13 May 2026.