Police ministry denies commissioner arrest claims
In a statement issued on June 30, the ministry said it was not informed of any such developments and urged the media to refrain from publishing unverified claims that could destabilise the SAPS.
'We, as the ministry, have not been made aware of such an impending arrest. We have also noted the response from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) on this speculation,' the statement read.
ALSO READ: Police intensify efforts to combat GBV and secure convictions nationwide
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu expressed his concern over the reports, highlighting the reputational and operational impact of such unsubstantiated narratives.
'We plead with the media to avoid any speculation on this. Speculation of this nature harms the named person also has the effect of destabilising police operations.'
The South African Government News Agency (SAnews.gov.za) reports that the statement comes amid growing public scrutiny over leadership within law enforcement and broader anti-corruption efforts in the public sector.
While the ministry did not confirm any investigations involving the commissioner, it reiterated its support for due legal processes and responsible journalism.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Woman awarded R2.2m after losing eye when hit by police's rubber bullet
The victim was struck in the right eye by a rubber bullet fired while she was at home. A woman from the North West has been awarded R2.2 million in damages after being struck in the eye by a rubber bullet fired by police during a protest. The North West High Court in Mahikeng ruled in favour of Elizabeth Matshidiso Jack, who suffered a major eye injury six years ago. She subsequently launched a civil claim against the minister of police. Although the minister conceded liability, no agreement could initially be reached on the amount of compensation. Jack initially sought R3.5 million (R3 536 677) in damages. Woman sues police minister after losing eye Testifying in court, Jack recounted that on 11 July 2019, she had been doing household chores in her yard in Ikageng, near Potchefstroom, when she was struck in the right eye by a rubber bullet fired by South African Police Service (Saps) members. The police officers were responding to civil unrest in the street outside her home at the time. As a result of the injury, Jack lost all function in her right eye. The eye was later surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Jack, who was 19 years old at the time of the incident, described the loss of her eye as a deeply traumatic event that significantly affected her sense of self-worth and confidence, particularly as a young unmarried woman. ALSO READ: Wrongfully arrested woman wins nearly R600k after ordeal that led her to consider suicide She explained that she had previously been extroverted and social, but the injury caused her to withdraw from the public. The woman now avoids public settings due to the appearance of the prosthesis, which does not move in sync with her remaining eye and creates an unnatural look. She also described scarring beneath her right eye from the surgery, which she claimed adds to her disfigurement and worsens her discomfort. Loss of income Jack further highlighted the physical pain she continues to endure. According to the victim, she manages the pain by sleeping, hoping that it will subside by the time she wakes due to a lack of proper medication. She also raised concerns about the risk of infection to her prosthetic eye, explaining that she avoids basic household tasks – such as sweeping or cooking – out of fear that exposure to dust or spices could potentially lead to complications. Jack testified that she supported herself by selling atchaar door-to-door, earning approximately R3 600 per month. Since the incident, her earnings have halved to R1 800. She also stated that she would require future medical and non-medical care, with costs estimated at R604 406 for occupational therapy and assistive devices. Medical and expert testimony Ophthalmologists who testified in court confirmed Jack is permanently blind in her right eye and suffers from a mild degree of post-enucleation socket syndrome, which can be surgically corrected. Occupational therapists testified that Jack's injury affects her ability to compete with her peers in the informal work sector. They agreed she would benefit from 32 hours of occupational therapy, at a cost of R750 to R850 per hour. READ MORE: Potchefstroom man awarded R850k in damages after horrific ordeal of wrongful arrest, detention She would also require adaptive equipment, an assistant for her business paid at the national minimum wage, eight hours of weekly domestic help, gardening services in summer and winter, and home maintenance costing R20 000. Industrial psychologists also gave evidence, stating that although Jack had no post-school qualifications, no driver's licence and was self-employed, she would likely have progressed to semi-skilled employment with higher earnings over time. North West High Court ruling In his ruling, Acting Judge Randall Ralph Titus highlighted that while the minister contended that Jack had not sufficiently proven her claim for loss of income, it remained undisputed that she had suffered harm as a result of the police's 'wrongful conduct'. The judge noted that Jack could not work for five months after the incident and calculated her lost income during that period as R18 000. He referenced prior judgments to determine an appropriate compensation amount and awarded R500 000 in general damages. 'It is common cause that the plaintiff has endured pain and suffering, disfigurement, permanent disability and loss of amenities of life,' the 2 July judgment reads. Titus further ordered that Jack be paid R18 000 for loss of earnings, R1 380 469 for future medical and related expenses, and R307 098 for assistants, bringing the total to R2 205 567. The amount is to be paid with interest. In addition, the minister was ordered to cover Jack's travel, food, and accommodation expenses incurred in connection with her medico-legal appointments. NOW READ: Daveyton man seeks R350k in damages after wife left him following unlawful arrest
![[WATCH] Police's Operation Shanela targets Roodepoort](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-cache.primedia-service.com%2Fmedia%2Ftyjp3kza%2Fwhatsapp-image-2025-07-03-at-132843-1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D630&w=3840&q=100)
![[WATCH] Police's Operation Shanela targets Roodepoort](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic-mobile-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com%2Feyewn.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Eyewitness News
an hour ago
- Eyewitness News
[WATCH] Police's Operation Shanela targets Roodepoort
Sphamandla Dlamini 3 July 2025 | 12:32 South African Police Service (SAPS) Operation Shanela Gauteng Police made numerous arrests during an Operation Shanela stop-and-search in Roodepoort on 3 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Public Protector clears Bheki Cele of SAPS helicopter misuse allegations
Former police minister Bheki Cele has been cleared by Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka of allegations of using a police helicopter to attend the ANC's 2024 election manifesto launch in Durban. Image: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has cleared former police minister Bheki Cele of accusations of chartering an SA Police Service (SAPS) helicopter to attend the ANC's 2024 election manifesto launch in February last year. The DA complained to Gcaleka after Cele was seen arriving at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium in an SAPS helicopter. Andrew Whitfield, the DA's then shadow police minister, accused Cele of making use of the official aircraft as his taxi or e-hailing service to and from a political party event. Whitfield also rejected Cele and the SAPS's averment that the former minister's use of the helicopter was in line with his 'constitutional responsibility as a Minister of Police'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In addition, Whitfield said should it be found that the SAPS helicopter collected Cele from any location other than its assigned base (and particularly if he was collected from King Shaka International Airport) and/or that its flight plan included no other activity but to transport him to and from the manifesto launch event, it would no doubt support the submissions that the former minister's use of the helicopter was solely personal. He further stated that it was wholly unrelated to any oversight or operational duties (which the former minister is in any event not entitled to undertake), and certainly not in line with his constitutional responsibility as the police minister. Whitfield alleged that Cele used his position in the national executive to improperly benefit himself by making use of an SAPS helicopter for private and party-political travel. However, Gcaleka found evidence indicating that the operational planning relating to policing for the launch of the ANC manifesto event was arranged by members of the SAPS led by one of its senior generals. 'The evidence at the Public Protector's disposal indicates that as part of safety and security planning for the event, approval for utilisation of an SAPS helicopter was granted by the Air Wing Support Unit Commander for the purpose of aerial surveillance and law enforcement during ANC manifesto launch,' reads Gcaleka's report. The only passengers were Cele and the top general in the SAPS helicopter used for aerial surveillance covering areas around Moses Mabhida Stadium during the ANC manifesto launch. Cele also used a commercial airline to travel from Cape Town to Durban and back. Gcaleka could not find any evidence to indicate that the SAPS helicopter was used to transport Cele beyond the various operational points at Moses Mabhida Stadium and surrounding areas.
