The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has moved to formalise explosive allegations made by suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Daphney Semakaleng Manamela, calling on her to submit a sworn affidavit along with supporting evidence.
The commission, which is probing corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), confirmed that it has written directly to Manamela following her public statements earlier this month.
Manamela made headlines on 19 April 2026 when she accused suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola of disregarding her warnings about entrenched corruption in Mpumalanga.
She further claimed that Masemola allowed himself to be influenced by what she described as a coordinated campaign to damage her reputation — a development she believes resulted in her second suspension.
According to Manamela, her removal from office is not linked to wrongdoing, but rather to her attempts to expose alleged collaboration between law enforcement officials and criminal networks. She has also alleged that a R5 million bribe forms part of the broader controversy surrounding her case.
Her claims extend to alleged political interference in sensitive investigations, including cases involving illegal mining operations, kidnappings, and politically motivated killings.
Manamela also alleged that a specialised provincial task team dealing with serious crime was dissolved after her suspension, suggesting the move may have been intended to weaken ongoing investigations.
In addition, she raised concerns about alleged interference in the investigation into the murder of Hillary Gardee, arguing that such actions compromised the integrity of the case.
In response, Masemola has rejected all allegations against him and has publicly challenged Manamela to present credible evidence to the commission.
The commission’s spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, stressed that the inquiry is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves. He explained that all claims will be assessed in line with the commission’s mandate to investigate criminality, corruption, and political interference within the justice system.
He confirmed that the commission has taken the additional step of informing the legal representatives of the Gardee family about its request for a sworn affidavit from Manamela.
“We have written to the relevant parties, including the legal team representing the Gardee family, to inform them of our request for a sworn affidavit from Lt-Gen Manamela,” Michaels said.
At this stage, the commission has declined to provide further details.
The request for a sworn statement does not suggest that the commission has reached any conclusions about the truthfulness of Manamela’s claims. Instead, it marks the beginning of a formal process in which her allegations will be tested against verifiable evidence.
