Fannie Masemola (born 1964) is the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service. [1] [2] He was appointed on March 31, 2022, by President Cyril Ramaphosa and holds the rank of General, responsible for the day-to-day management of the South African Police Services. [3] [4]
Sehlahle Fannie Masemola was born in 1964 in Groblersdal in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Masemola grew up in a family of policemen and was fascinated by the law enforcement profession from a young age. [5] In 1987 he joined the South African Police Services.
Masemola has both a Diploma and a Higher Diploma in Policing and as well as a Masters in Public Management. [6] He served 10 years in KwaZulu-Natal where he was also the Deputy Provincial Commissioner, at the rank of Major General, in charge of operations before he was transferred to Pretoria in 2010 as the Acting Divisional Commissioner of Protection and Security Services. He remained a Major General until October 2010 when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General to head the Division, Protection and Security Services.
In August 2025, it was reported that Masemola faced arrest over allegations of corruption. [7] Masemola is alleged to have abused slush funds from the secret service account of crime intelligence and purchased two properties in Pretoria (Veroz Boutique Hotel) and Midrand (Kyalami Lodge) without adhering to proper procedures. [8] One of Masemola's accomplices, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo who heads crime intelligence, has been arrested for fraud and corruption related to the purchase of a boutique hotel in Pretoria North, reportedly acquired for R22.7 million and a commercial building in Durban, valued at R22.8m million [9] [10] The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption denied that any warrant for his arrest had been issued, calling the reports unfounded, and emphasized that these allegations remain unproven in court. [11]
In September 2025,Masemola suspended his deputy Shadrack Sibiya over allegations by Kwazulu Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that Sibiya tried to disband the task team investigating political assassinations in the province. [12] Masemola also appeared in front of Madlanga Commission to give evidence into the allegations that the police were working with and protecting criminals. He accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of exceeding his constitutional mandate by ordering the immediate disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in 2024. [13]