Masemola: 'There is a deliberate effort by certain politicians to discredit me'

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing police corruption that there have been deliberate attempts by politicians and the media to discredit him.

Masemola has warned against running unverified information and spreading what he calls "falsehoods" to cast aspersions on his professional integrity.

He was giving testimony on Thursday in the parliamentary hearings, where he illustrated how rogue elements in the police were able to spread disinformation using media and politicians.

Masemola said he's also been a target where some rogue elements used various means to destabilise the police.

He said an example was how information was used to discredit him, either through the media or through politicians.

Masemola said this followed reports that he was facing imminent arrest by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) earlier this year.

"I say that there is a deliberate effort by certain politicians to discredit me and cast doubt on my integrity."

He said the media was also responsible

"Around May/June 2025, stories began to appear in the media that the IDAC was about to arrest me, and that warrant of arrest is being issued. They even reported I was in my office shivering with fear."

Masemola said he never faced arrest, and this was also dismissed by IDAC.

He said he believed in media freedom but would continue engaging industry bodies like the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF).