South Africa’s criminal intelligence chief Dumisani Khumalo has been arrested and appeared in court on charges of fraud and corruption.
General Kumarlow was picked up Thursday night after being landed by members of the anti-corruption department at the main international airport in Johannesburg.
He appeared in the capital Pretoria on Friday with all the senior police officers whom he co-deliberated.
Their attorney said they intend to plead not guilty to any charges filed against them.
The details of the allegations are unclear, but local media said General Kumalo and six others were related to ongoing investigations into the abuse of intelligence fund and the potentially illegal appointments within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
It marks the second wave of arrests in two weeks against SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit.
Three other senior officials face corruption and other charges.
The arrests raised questions about the integrity of the department, which will actively prevent crime and combat criminals.
The Democratic coalition, the second largest party in the coalition government, welcomed the arrests, saying it was “the right step to save the organization on the brink of collapse.”
“This shows that in a critical state institution, another serious breach of trust is responsible for carrying out our country’s police functions and tasks,” the party said in a statement.
The Economic Freedom Fighter Party said General Kumalo’s arrest was not an isolated scandal, but “the latest symptom of a sick and hollow policing system that desperately requires structural overhaul”.
General Kumalo became the head of the criminal intelligence department in 2022.
Until then, he served in different police units for more than twenty years.
Many corruption cases against senior police have tainted their reputation in the country over the years.
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