Inquiry set to resume for suspended Mpumalanga police chief Semakaleng Manamela

Suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner to face inquiry next week

Suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela is due to appear before a statutory board of inquiry for five days starting Monday, 25 May 2026, the latest step in a long-running dispute over alleged misconduct.

What she is accused of

Manamela faces charges of misconduct that include the alleged acceptance of gifts worth nearly R300,000 from ‘SAPS semi-official funds’ and the approval of unlawful promotions for police officers with pending corruption cases. She was first charged in February 2023 and suspended following those charges.

Legal battles and failed appeals

Manamela challenged the charges and the inquiry process through the courts up to the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, but those superior courts dismissed her applications. She is still pursuing a review application contesting the decision to subject her to a board of inquiry.

The board was established by then-National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola in March 2026 after Manamela lost her bid to stop the inquiry at the apex court.

Why the inquiry is resuming now

Court papers show the inquiry was intended to run for five days in the week starting 4 May 2026, but that was halted after threats of a contempt of court application against Masemola. Following Manamela’s unsuccessful challenges, the inquiry will now resume for five days from 25 May 2026.

Time pressure her term is ending

Manamela’s term of office is set to expire at the end of June 2026, which the SAPS says could mean the service loses the opportunity to complete the probe if it is not held while she is still in office. A judge summarised the legal position, noting the statutory board must be convened during the term of office of the person under investigation.

Court findings on her attempts to halt the inquiry

In his judgment, Judge Anthony Millar found that Manamela had not taken steps to pursue her application to interdict the board of inquiry and that she had failed to make out a case to interdict the inquiry or to establish a right to personal legal representation in the inquiry.

“It seems to me to be self-evident that the interpretation contended by Manamela cannot be accepted as a sensible interpretation of the order. To do so would be to invert the hierarchy of our courts,” Judge Millar said.

The judge also rejected Manamela’s bid to have Masemola held in contempt of court.

Responses and next steps

The inquiry’s resumption is scheduled for five days from 25 May 2026. Manamela’s legal representatives, Kharametsane Attorneys, had not responded to questions by Tuesday afternoon, according to court reporting.

Key timeline

• February 2023 Manamela was initially charged and suspended.
• March 2026 National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola instituted the board of inquiry.
• 4 May 2026 A planned sitting was stopped after threats of contempt action.
• 25 May 2026 Board of inquiry set to resume for five days.
• End of June 2026 Manamela’s term of office is due to expire.

This matter remains before the courts and the statutory inquiry is due to proceed next week unless further legal action intervenes.