By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

South Africa is currently experiencing a crisis in which half of the provinces in the country are without leaders in the Crime Intelligence department as there are growing concerns as to who will lead the charge in regards to dismantling organised crime within these provinces. 

Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, revealed this in his testimony at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday who serves as the Divisional Commissioner for crime intelligence. Khumalo explained that there are factions of senior management posts that remain vacant as there was a stalemate between himself and his supervisor Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, who serves as Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection. 

Khumalo further explained that two batches of senior management posts were advertised by the division of Crime Intelligence back in 2024, which include provincial heads of crime intelligence as well as other sections at head office level.

“I did it (the proposal) on the first batch of posts. The line of communication is that I send it to the immediate supervisor, the Deputy National Commissioner for crime detection, for his support of the proposal, who will sign it off and process it to the HR division for approval in consultation with the national commissioner,” said Khumalo in his testimony.

“My proposal for the panel for the first batch was not supported by (Sibiya); instead, he proposed his own panel of which he then had to do in consultation with me. I did not agree with his panel, and there was a stalemate, because I was proposing a certain panel, and Sibiya was proposing another,” Khumalo added.

Khumalo also explained that the South African Police Service (SAPS) Human Resources did not expect to receive two different sets of proposals “They have to get one, proposed by me, supported by my immediate supervisor (Sibiya), so they can approve it, in consultation with the national commissioner,” said Khumalo.

“Another request was sent now, for another batch of senior management posts; the same process happened and it also reached that point of stagnation,” Khumalo added as he explained that the process of filling these vacancies remained largely stagnant. 

Khumalo continued to testify that he had consulted Fannie Masemola, who serves as National Commissioner. “I maintained my position that the panel I’ve put together, according to me, as the responsible officer of the division, in terms of the legal framework governing the existence of the division, needs to be submitted. That discussion did not find a way forward. The stalemate remained,” said Khumao. 

There is a paragraph in suspended Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu’s disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team letter which addressed the halt in filling these posts. “All processes to fill vacant posts in the division should be halted immediately. 

This applies to all posts in provinces including those at provincial Heads of Intelligence that are currently vacant. It also applies to all posts currently vacant at Head office” the letter read.