Police committee chair calls for Khumalo's suspension

Khumalo and six other co accused appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate Court, he and five others were granted R10 000 bail.

However,  accused number two, Philani Lushaba, remained in custody due to another pending court case on corruption.

Cameron urged for immediate evidence to be considered for timely disciplinary processes. 

He said all the implicated senior officers must be suspended to ensure that investigations can proceed thoroughly, independently, and fairly.

“The immediate focus should be clear. Those implicated must be suspended to ensure that investigations can proceed thoroughly, independently, and fairly.”

“It’s about protecting the integrity of the process, safeguarding sensitive systems, and maintaining public confidence. It’s a standard and necessary step in any organisation where trust is meant to be central to the work.” said the chairperson. 

He, however, said suspension was not enough; he called for the court to act swiftly to process the allegations. 

“Either there’s enough evidence to remove someone from the service, or there isn’t. But SAPS cannot afford to have senior members sitting in limbo while dysfunction continues around them as essentially it is ordinary South Africans who continue to suffer.”

Cameron said integrity audits are important to prevent wrong people from occupying wrong roles. 

“A ghost worker audit is just as critical. Allegations of ghost employees have plagued CI for years. This must be part of the clean-up. Every post, every person, every payment must be verified.”

He regarded the arrest of Khumalo as an opportunity to fix the SAPS Crime Intelligence— saying no short cuts and convenient reshuffles should be considered.

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