JOHANNESBURG - Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, senior official within the South African Police Service, has stepped into one of the most powerful positions in the service.
She was appointed as the Acting National Police Commissioner after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the precautionary suspension of Fannie Masemola on Thursday evening.
He faces four counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in relation to a R360 million tender and is accused of failing in his duty as a SAPS accounting officer.
Who is Puleng Dimpane?
Dimpane is not a new face within the leadership circle.
She has served within the service for almost two decades, having joined in 2007 as an internal auditor.
In 2018, Dimpane was promoted to occupy the post of the CFO at the SAPS head office in Pretoria.
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This is key as her role rose to sharp focus when she appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee in December 2025.
The parliamentary body was tasked with probing allegations of criminal infiltration and political interference within the justice system and police service.
Dimpane, a witness at the Ad Hoc Committee
During that testimony, she pulled the rug on internal issues within the SAPS.
Among those was consequence management, which she deemed was ineffective. This, she said, included irregular expenditure.
The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) also came to the spotlight, wherein Dimpane disclosed that the expenses that have been incurred since its inception to this end were R435 million.
READ | Mosikili tells Parliament controversial PKTT disbandment 'confusing' and 'unexpected
She denied being responsible for contract awards, adding that she had no direct involvement in supply chain management before the recent changes.
Ramaphosa endorses her appointment
Dimpane takes on her new role during difficult times in the SAPS, where public trust, governance and performance are under scrutiny amid allegations of criminal infiltration.
But Ramaphosa has thrown his weight behind her, saying she has extensive experience in the police, strategic finance and governance.
"She has a reputation for professionalism as well as integrity," he said.