Drama outside Randburg court as supporter links arrest of top cop to SAPS succession battle - IOL

Drama unfolds outside the Randburg Magistrate's Court as Lazarus Maumela, an associate of a senior SAPS officer arrested on grooming and rape charges, claims the policeman's arrest was linked to succession battles within the police service.

Drama unfolded outside the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday when a close associate of a 59-year-old senior police officer, who has been arrested on grooming and rape charges, claimed the officer’s arrest was linked to succession battles within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The senior officer, who holds the rank of lieutenant-general, was arrested on Monday night and is facing charges relating to the alleged grooming of a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026, and the alleged rape of an 18-year-old at a hotel in Sandton in May.

He is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The officer was arrested by members of the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team (CRTT).

IOL knows the name of the officer but cannot disclose it until he appears in court.

Speaking to the media outside the court, Lazarus Maumela, who described himself as a close associate of the officer, said he believed the arrest was part of a targeted campaign against the senior policeman.

Maumela said he was present when the officer was arrested and claimed the case was connected to a succession battle within the police service.

“A long-time friend and a child of God who grew up in church. A very great keyboard player and a man who loves worshipping. And, of course, we are here to support a person who is, in our view, being victimised,” Maumela said.

“There is a targeted plan against him, only because of the succession battle of the SAPS.”

Maumela also criticised the state of policing in South Africa, claiming that senior police officials were more focused on internal battles than fighting crime.

“This is as a result of the failure of the government of South Africa because you cannot have people doing as they wish. You look at the amount of people that are being killed. Police are busy fighting in the boardroom rather than going to hunt the criminals,” he said.

“People are fed up with these police. Because there’s no police in South Africa. They are gangsters because if you do a proper lifestyle audit of all generals, you will see what we are talking about, that these are criminals.”

When asked what evidence he had to support his claim that the officer was being targeted, Maumela referred to South Africa’s political history.

“We know the history of South Africa very well. We know what happened to Jacob Zuma when he was supposed to ascend to power. He was accused of rape. We know what people are capable of,” he said.

“There are many, many men in South Africa who have been [accused]. We know this. This is because of the succession battles.”

Maumela also questioned the timing of the arrest, given that the alleged rape is said to have occurred in May.

“If the general indeed had done this, and they allege that it happened in May, why was he not arrested then? What was it that we were waiting for?” he asked.

He also referred to the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and claimed there was a selective approach to investigations.

“We appreciate the work that Madlanga is doing. So we also appreciate the fact that Madlanga, in their second interim report, had highlighted this individual for further investigation by the commission,” he said.

Maumela claimed that sexual offence allegations had historically been used in succession battles, but provided no evidence that the current allegations were fabricated or linked to the SAPS leadership contest.

Earlier, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) was a broader societal challenge but stressed that the police service had a particular responsibility to address it within its own ranks.

“GBVF is not merely a matter for one institution or one component of society. It is a societal challenge that requires a whole-of-society response,” Mathe said.

“But as the police service, we recognise that we carry a particular responsibility. We are the institution that communities turn to when they are victims of crime.”

Mathe said the SAPS had a duty to investigate allegations of violence, protect victims and survivors, and hold its own members accountable.

“The fight against GBVF must include accountability within the SAPS, and today is exactly that. This is what accountability looks like, and we have proven that we do not tolerate such behaviour in our ranks,” she said.

Mathe said the SAPS had consistently maintained that no one was above the law, regardless of rank or position.

“Irrespective of rank, position or status, where there is evidence, that particular evidence is brought before a court of law and that individual, irrespective of who they are, is brought to answer to the crimes committed,” she said.

“This is what the public should expect from us. The arrest, even within our ranks, without fear or favour.”

Mathe said the allegations involving a minor were particularly concerning and stressed the responsibility of police officers to protect vulnerable people.

“Children are the most vulnerable members of society. They depend on adults to protect them. They depend on institutions like the SAPS to protect them, and they depend on police officers to intervene when their rights have been violated,” she said.

“Any allegation involving sexual exploitation or grooming of a child, [or] the rape of an 18-year-old girl, must therefore be treated with the utmost seriousness.”

She said police officers must never abuse their authority to exploit women or children.

“A child, a young girl, must never be viewed as an easy target. A child’s vulnerability must never be exploited, and a person of authority must never use that authority to gain access to or manipulate a young girl or a young child.”

Mathe said protecting women and children remained a priority for the police service.

“The SAPS commitment to protecting women and children must be firm and absolute. It’s non-negotiable. It is a priority,” she said.

She said the SAPS had committed resources to strengthening its response to GBVF and acknowledged that more needed to be done.

“We know that there is still more that we need to do as an organisation, obviously in terms of dealing decisively with GBVF, especially in the context of what is happening in the country,” Mathe said.

“We need more arrests. But this type of crime requires prevention, and that is why we are also heightening our awareness.”

Mathe stressed that the police could not address GBVF alone.

“It requires the whole of society to come together and show that, as a country, we can stand united and fight GBV,” she said.

Mathe acknowledged that the arrest of a senior officer was disappointing, given the responsibilities attached to his position, but stressed that the allegations still had to be tested in court.

“This is a person that is entrusted with serving and protecting the people of this country, particularly women and children. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Everyone is innocent until they are proven guilty before a court of law,” she said.

“But I think our stance is very clear: We will not tolerate GBVF within our ranks.”

She urged police officers to use their positions responsibly.

“We have no room for abuse in the organisation, especially against women and children. There is no room for exploitation, especially of women and children. And that is a crime that we will not tolerate.”