South Africa's president suspends police chief after court charges

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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 (£15.5m) health contract, which has become the subject of a criminal investigation and has since been cancelled.

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.

Ramaphosa said he had 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.

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