Former Deputy National Commissioner of Police Lieutenant General Francinah Vuma is set to appear before a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi .
Vuma, who was suspended in 2022 and retired in January 2026 after 34 years of service, is expected to testify about her suspension and claims that she was targeted by former police minister Bheki Cele and national commissioner General Fannie Masemola .
Protected Disclosure to Ramaphosa
In a leaked protected disclosure letter addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and security cluster officials, Vuma alleged corruption and unlawful conduct by top-ranking figures .
She accused Masemola of instituting an unjustified suspension against her on Cele’s behalf, claiming he was pursuing a corrupt agenda and issuing a number of “unlawful instructions” that she refused to execute on ethical and professional grounds .
“As you would know, the Act declares that employees making protected disclosures like myself should not be subjected to occupational detriment by the employer, wholly or partly on account of having made a protected disclosure,” she wrote .
Fear for Her Life
Vuma told Ramaphosa that she feared for her life. “I am both scared for my life and livelihood. Both are being threatened because I have taken it upon myself not to be influenced in my decisions and to stand on principle,” she wrote .
She said she had reported the matter to several authorities, including the State Security Agency, which at one point assessed that her life might be in danger .
The threats allegedly came from a senior colleague who was later dismissed, as well as from unknown callers and suspicious activity around her home. A threat assessment was later conducted by Crime Intelligence .
Suspension and Pressure
Vuma claimed that Masemola told her on 30 June 2022 that he was under pressure from both internal and external parties to suspend her . In July 2022, Masemola served her with a written notice of suspension or temporary transfer, giving her three days to respond .
She said she requested additional time to consult her legal representatives but that Masemola refused .
“I believe that Masemola’s relentless and hasty pursuit to suspend me is nothing but an attempt at getting his hands on the safe,” she wrote .
Allegations Against Cele
Vuma made several serious allegations against former minister Bheki Cele :
She was subpoenaed by the National Prosecuting Authority to provide documents related to the procurement of accommodation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup – an investigation involving Cele and others . Her initial attempt to locate the required documents was “stonewalled” .
She alleged unlawful procurement of Covid-19 personal protective equipment by senior officials. During a meeting, a high-ranking officer directed her towards specific companies allegedly hand-picked by Cele . She was later summoned to a meeting with the minister where she and a colleague were berated for refusing to purchase from the companies .
“I stood my ground and said we would not be coerced to act unlawfully,” she wrote, adding that she subsequently reported Cele through a protected disclosure .
She also alleged that Cele reprimanded her for removing a major-general who had been appointed as chief audit executive despite lacking the necessary qualifications .
Vuma further alleged that Cele was involved in the R120 million procurement of interception equipment that lacked the required certification from the departments of state security and justice . “As a result, the interception equipment remained unused and the expenditure was wasted,” she wrote .
She said she launched investigations into fruitless and wasteful expenditure linked to the purchase, which led to further threats .
Earlier Disclosures
Vuma said the protected disclosure was not her first, having made “a couple of disclosures to the former national commissioner and other members of the government’s investigative arms relating to various matters” .
She described the written disclosure as a last resort after previous attempts to raise concerns internally .
Vuma is considered a key figure in several high-profile investigations into alleged corruption and misconduct within SAPS . Her testimony before the ad hoc committee is expected to focus on her tenure as deputy national commissioner and several transactions that took place under her watch .
