GQEBERHA – An investigation is underway after approximately R80,000 in cash vanished from the office of Lt-Gen Vuyisile Ncata, the newly appointed Eastern Cape Police Commissioner.
The funds disappeared during Ncata’s tenure as the Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, a role in which he managed 18 police stations. The missing money was allegedly collected over a 12-month period through a series of fundraising drives marketed as contributions for excellence awards.
While the district excellence awards are intended to reward exceptional performance among officers, no date has been set for the ceremony, and the event has yet to take place.
Fundraising mechanisms and collection rates
The funds were reportedly amassed through requests for payments to support multiple sporting events and fun walks, described internally as morale-boosting initiatives linked to the planned awards. These collections were mandatory or strongly encouraged across various ranks:
- Station Commanders: R1,000
- Junior Members and Captains: R100
- SAPS Act Personnel: R50
- General Contributions: Between R10 and R20 per person for specific events
Members say the contributions, though framed as voluntary fundraising, were widely experienced as an obligation tied to performance and visibility within the district hierarchy.
Despite these collections, insiders claim the proceeds were not handled according to police protocol. Instead of being deposited into a dedicated bank account-which sources say had already been opened for this purpose-the cash was allegedly kept in a safe located in Ncata’s third-floor office at the Mount Road police station.
National Treasury and South African Police Service (SAPS) financial prescripts, issued under the Public Finance Management Act, generally require public funds and official collections to be banked promptly, recorded and subjected to regular audit. The apparent decision to retain large amounts of cash in an office safe is therefore a key focus of the internal probe, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Discovery and criminal charges
The disappearance of the funds was discovered after Ncata vacated his district post to assume the role of provincial commissioner on April 1, 2026. Upon his departure, Ncata instructed a finance officer to conduct a count of the cash, at which point it was realized the funds had been stolen.
Ncata had tasked his secretary, Cherice Davis, with the day-to-day oversight of the money, including access to the safe and record-keeping of contributions, according to police sources. A criminal case of theft was opened against Davis in May 2026.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the incident, noting that the Eastern Cape’s Anti-Corruption Unit is leading the criminal probe.
“An internal departmental investigation is also underway,” Gantana said. “SAPS can confirm the secretary has tendered her resignation and is currently serving her notice period.”
Gantana added, “To protect the integrity of the investigations, no further information can be shared at this time.”
The Anti-Corruption Unit’s involvement signals that investigators are examining not only the alleged theft but also whether any senior officials may have breached internal control measures or failed in their oversight responsibilities.
Allegations of extortion and misuse
While Davis faces criminal charges, sources within the police service have raised questions regarding the legitimacy of the fundraising scheme itself and the conduct of the general.
One police insider, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, described the scheme as “extortion” of the 18 police stations. The source alleged that the funds were diverted for unauthorized personal use.
“He took money for fun and to buy food such as KFC for a certain school where he wanted to shine,” the insider alleged.
The source further questioned why a high-ranking general would store cash in an office safe and entrust it to a junior clerk rather than utilizing official finance departments or bank accounts. “Now the poor clerk is charged alone, but they allegedly used the money together,” she said.
Another insider characterized the timing of the discovery as “highly suspicious.”
“Very funny, after he was promoted, someone out of the blue came to this clerk and said they must count the money,” the source said. “The money was gone, and a case was opened.”
A third source echoed these concerns, stating that officers felt “completely drained” by the constant financial demands, adding, “We felt extorted because we are expected to contribute towards every little thing.”
None of the allegations against Ncata have been tested in court, and he has not been formally charged. SAPS has not responded to detailed questions about whether the provincial commissioner himself is a subject of the internal investigation.
Regulatory and policy implications
Policing expert Patricia Mashale stated that the investigation must determine if the contributions were in effect forced, as SAPS and wider public service policies require such collections to be approved by senior provincial members and strictly accounted for.
“Officials can’t just collect money on their own authority,” Mashale said. She added that workplace power dynamics can make ostensibly voluntary contributions feel compulsory, particularly when driven from the top of the command structure.
She noted that if junior members felt pressured to pay, the matter could be treated as misconduct or abuse of authority, and that missing records of expenditure could lead to further disciplinary or criminal action. Under SAPS financial instructions, any deviation from approved fundraising processes can trigger audits and, where warranted, intervention by oversight bodies such as the Auditor-General or the Public Service Commission.
The criminal case against Cherice Davis remains active while the Eastern Cape’s Anti-Corruption Unit continues its investigation. Governance analysts say the outcome will test whether SAPS applies the same standard of accountability to senior leadership as it does to junior staff, at a time when public trust in law-enforcement integrity remains fragile.