Courts & Legal
Former SAPS deputy Francinah Vuma says she feared for her life, in corruption probe
A former senior figure inside the South African Police Service is preparing to speak publicly about allegations that have shaken the country’s policing leadership.
Lieutenant General Francinah Vuma, who served as deputy national commissioner of SAPS before retiring in January 2026, is expected to appear before an ad hoc parliamentary committee investigating claims of corruption and misconduct within the police service.
Her testimony could shed new light on a dispute that has quietly unfolded behind the scenes for years but burst into the open after a dramatic briefing by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July 2025.
For many South Africans already concerned about accountability within law enforcement, the hearing could become one of the most closely watched moments in the ongoing scrutiny of SAPS leadership.
A senior officer who challenged the system
Vuma spent more than three decades in the police service, eventually rising to the role of deputy national commissioner responsible for support services and later asset and legal management.
Her career took a sharp turn in 2022 when she was suspended from her position.
According to disclosures she made at the time, the suspension came after she raised concerns about corruption and unlawful instructions allegedly involving senior figures in the police leadership.
In a letter that circulated among officials within the country’s security cluster and reached President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vuma argued that she had become a target after refusing to carry out orders she believed were improper.
She alleged that National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola was acting under pressure from former police minister Bheki Cele when steps were taken against her.
The disclosure formed part of a protected whistleblowing process, which under South African law is meant to shield employees who report wrongdoing from retaliation.
“I feared for my life”
Perhaps the most alarming part of Vuma’s claims was the warning she made about personal threats.
In her communication to the president, she said her life and livelihood felt under threat because she had refused to compromise her professional principles.
She stated that she had already reported the matter to multiple authorities, including the State Security Agency.
At one stage, an assessment reportedly indicated that her life could indeed be at risk.
Vuma also described suspicious activity near her home and threatening calls from unknown individuals during the period when tensions around her suspension escalated.
The suspension battle
Events surrounding the suspension unfolded quickly in mid-2022.
Vuma said she was told by Masemola that pressure existed from both inside and outside the police service to suspend her.
Shortly afterwards, she received a written notice offering either suspension or temporary transfer, with only three days to respond.
She asked for additional time to consult her legal team but said the request was refused.
In her disclosures, she argued that the urgency around removing her from her role was linked to control over sensitive documents and investigations.
World Cup procurement investigation
At the same time, Vuma found herself involved in a separate legal matter linked to historical police procurement.
She had been subpoenaed by the National Prosecuting Authority to provide documents connected to accommodation procurement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The investigation reportedly involved several figures, including Cele during his earlier tenure as national police commissioner.
Vuma said she initially struggled to locate the required files but eventually secured the documents with assistance from the Hawks and submitted them to the NPA.
She described herself as a cooperating witness in the investigation.
Allegations around PPE and police contracts
The disclosures also raised concerns about other procurement decisions inside SAPS.
Vuma claimed that during the Covid-19 pandemic, she was pressured to purchase personal protective equipment from companies that had allegedly been pre-selected.
She said she refused to authorise the deals because she believed they would be unlawful.
According to her account, the disagreement led to a tense meeting with the police minister in which she and a colleague were criticised for refusing to proceed.
She also said she faced criticism after removing a senior officer who had been appointed as chief audit executive despite lacking the necessary qualifications.
R120 million equipment controversy
Another issue highlighted in her letter involved the purchase of interception equipment worth about R120 million.
Vuma alleged that the equipment did not receive the required certification from the departments responsible for state security and justice.
Because of this, she said the system could not be used, and the money spent was effectively wasted.
She launched an investigation into the expenditure, which she believes intensified the threats she was receiving.
A key witness in Parliament’s investigation
With Parliament now probing the broader allegations raised by Mkhwanazi, Vuma’s testimony is expected to focus on her time in senior leadership and the controversial procurement decisions that occurred during that period.
Observers say her appearance could be crucial because she was directly involved in internal oversight and investigations while serving as deputy national commissioner.
The hearing also arrives at a time when public trust in law enforcement institutions remains fragile.
Online discussions about the case have already drawn strong reactions, with many South Africans saying the proceedings could test how seriously corruption claims within the police service are handled.
Whether the parliamentary investigation leads to further inquiries or legal action remains to be seen. What is certain is that Vuma’s account will place the spotlight firmly back on the inner workings of SAPS leadership.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
