South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the country's top policeman on 'precautionary suspension' after he was charged in court on Tuesday. Gen Fannie Masemola, 62, is alleged to have failed in his oversight duties in connection with the awarding of a controversial $21m health contract, which has become the subject of a criminal investigation and has since been canceled. He has been charged with violating part of South Africa's Public Finance Management Act, which governs how taxpayers' money is spent. Masemola told journalists after Tuesday's hearing that he denied the charges. I know that I'm not guilty, I'm not wrong, but the [law] must take its course, he said. He is the third South African police chief to face a criminal investigation while in office. Ramaphosa said he decided to suspend the policeman because of the seriousness of these charges and the critical role that the national commissioner of police plays in leading the fight against crime. Masemola will be suspended until the court case is concluded, he added. The president made the announcement during a press briefing in Pretoria, with Masemola's replacement, Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane, standing alongside him. Ramaphosa stressed that it was vital for law enforcement agencies to be capable, ethical and effective and that they must have the confidence of the people of South Africa. Masemola's case relates to a tender awarded to controversial businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala's company, Medicare24 Tshwane District, in 2024, which was meant to provide health services to the police. The contract was canceled in May 2025, and since then a dozen senior police officers have been formally charged over their role in awarding it. They have been accused of colluding with Matlala, who has also been charged with corruption. None of them have yet pleaded in court. Masemola, however, is the only one not charged with corruption, facing four counts related to the public finances act. The allegations related to the health contract tender surfaced during an inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, established by Ramaphosa to investigate corruption in the police force.