Buhle Mbhele
Bishop Lazarus Maumela, a friend and supporter of the 59 year old top cop arrested at a club on Monday evening believes this is an orchestrated move against the suspect.
On Monday, a 59-year-old Lieutenant-General was arrested in Sandton in Gauteng.
The senior officer faces charges relating to the alleged sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026, as well as the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman.
The senior cop appeared at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and was supported by among others, his friend Bishop Maumela.
Maumela engaged the media outside court where he stood in defence of the accused Lieutenent-General.
He claims this act has been a build up from the controversial July 6 2025 press briefing by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
He has linked the arrest to the succession race at SAPS as new leadership is set to be appointed.
“We know when the press conference was made, it was made clear that we do not want this gentlemen to become a national commissioner, he was accused of all sorts,” said Maumela.
Listen to Maumela’s audio below…
National Police Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says authorities will not ignore the possibility that more victims may come forward following the arrest of the senior police officer.
Mathe was also speaking outside the Randburg Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng, where the suspect made their first court appearance.
She has urged anyone who may have been affected or has information to report it to law enforcement.
Mathe has reiterated that police will not tolerate incidents of gender-based violence and the killing of women perpetrated within the police service.
“If there are any victims we would like to assure them that as the SAPS we have a trusted and dedicated team that treats any piece information with the utmost confidentiality,” said Mathe.
Listen to Mathe’s audio below.
