The arrests of Brigadier Stephinah Mahlangu, whose repeated alleged offenses have ignited public debate over accountability within the SAPS.
(The Post News)- Brigadier Stephinah Mahlangu has been arrested three times since February 2022 on charges of tender fraud and corruption. Despite these repeated arrests, the police brigadier remains employed by the South African Police Service , raising serious questions about internal accountability and the integrity of the force.
The most recent arrest occurred in late July 2025, where Mahlangu and two co-accused—also police officers—were charged with fraud related to a R79 million tender for office furniture. According to reports, the three, as part of the bid evaluation committee, allegedly made false submissions that led to a specific company being awarded the contract. They were granted bail of R20,000 each.
This incident follows two previous arrests. In February 2022, Mahlangu was one of 15 people arrested for allegedly defrauding the police of more than R1.9 million through personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders. She was arrested again in June 2022, this time with seven co-accused, for charges of fraud, forgery, and theft. These charges stemmed from four irregular contracts, valued at over R960,000, that were awarded between 2014 and 2017 in the national police commissioner’s corporate services office.
In her bail affidavit for the most recent case, Mahlangu reportedly confirmed that she has two other criminal matters pending against her.
In response to the situation, the police have stated that Mahlangu was transferred from the supply chain management division and that internal departmental processes are underway. This response, however, has failed to satisfy critics who question why she has not been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal cases.
The case brings to light the complex and often lengthy nature of disciplinary proceedings within the SAPS. The South African Police Service Act and its regulations outline a framework for dealing with misconduct, including disciplinary action. However, the process of suspending an officer often involves a separate internal investigation and can be a protracted affair, even when criminal charges are active.
The Democratic Alliance has been vocal on the issue, with a spokesperson for the party, Dianne Kohler Barnard, demanding the immediate suspension of all SAPS members arrested for serious criminal offenses. They argue that retaining these individuals in active service undermines public trust and the integrity of the police force. The DA has called for the implementation of boards of fitness to determine if an arrested officer should remain in service.
The case of Brigadier Stephinah Mahlangu has become a high-profile example of the challenges facing the SAPS in its battle against internal corruption. While police management points to ongoing internal processes, the repeated arrests of a senior officer without a visible suspension raises difficult questions about the efficacy of these systems and the service’s commitment to upholding its own standards. The outcome of both the criminal and departmental proceedings against Mahlangu will be a key test of the SAPS’s ability to hold its members accountable.
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