The South African Police Service has suspended a captain in its Protection and Security Services division for allegedly pocketing millions of rands by falsifying travel expenses for presidential protectors. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe announced the suspension following an internal investigation that uncovered suspicious transactions. No close protectors are implicated in the case.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) suspended a captain attached to the finance section of its Protection and Security Services division on 1 April 2026. The action followed an internal investigation that identified discrepancies and suspicious transactions linked to payments totalling R3-million, red-flagged earlier in March in Tshwane.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, national police spokesperson, stated that the captain allegedly manipulated the SAPS financial system to withdraw millions in cash. “He manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the guise that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services,” Mathe said. She added that the money was not received by the protectors but booked out in lump sums by the member.
A fraud case has been registered at Sunnyside Police Station in Pretoria. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola praised the Financial Management Division for detecting the issue and directed the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate further.
SAPS emphasised that no close protectors for the President, Deputy President, Ministers or Deputy Ministers are involved. The service assured the public it would not tolerate fraud or corruption among its officers.
