Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, 31, was set to receive the Integrity Under Fire Special Award at the 2026 Whistleblower Awards on the evening of 26 October 2026.
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, congratulated her on the award. The honour comes two years after she was appointed to the rank of brigadier in 2024.
“Brigadier Mokwele’s recognition at the Whistleblower Awards is commendable. Her resilience and steadfast commitment to professionalism in the face of adversity demonstrate the importance of integrity, ethical conduct and accountability in public service. We applaud her courage and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition,” Masemola said in a statement shared by SAPS on X.
SAPS said the award recognises her courage, humility and integrity in the face of hardship inside the institution. The police service said it also acknowledges her drive to overcome obstacles that seemed impossible.
Masemola said her recognition showed her resilience and her commitment to serving the police service despite the challenges she has faced.
Mokwele’s career has not been smooth. She was arrested along with other senior police officers, and there were questions about her appointment.
According to IOL, she faced charges of fraud and corruption over claims that she was not qualified for her job. The prosecutor who authorised the arrest later admitted under oath that she had not looked at Mokwele’s CV. The charges were later withdrawn.
SAPS said she kept a professional and disciplined approach to her work throughout these challenges.
Mokwele holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Engineering and a National Diploma in Mechatronics Engineering. According to SAPS, her training includes leadership, project management and a course in Intensive Service Design at Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
Before joining the police, she worked in the private sector, including at BMW South Africa.
In 2024 she was appointed Section Head of Technical Support Services in the SAPS Crime Intelligence Division. There she led technical teams and managed workshops, infrastructure and processes that support intelligence work, SAPS said.
She is now Acting Section Head of Crime Systems Infrastructure Management in the Technology Management Services division. In this role she oversees technology projects and works with partners to make crime systems more reliable and modern, according to SAPS.
Masemola himself has had charges against him withdrawn. Those charges were linked to the Medicare24 tender connected to Cat Matlala, Bona reported.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Bona. Image: Bona. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.