Listening to Yolande Faro speak during her appearance on the Madlanga Commission I was struck by several things:
- Her conviction and dedication to rooting out corruption was a shining light on all those other miscreants and stumblers.
- NMB Lost a valuable fighter against corruption when Faro moved on after her contract came to an end.
- I, personally, need to start looking at everyone with a different set of glasses on – not everyone is a crook!
Just a reminder – Yolande Faro did not leave the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police Force due to a scandal or forced resignation; she left because she had served out her full five-year contract.
As of April 2026, Yolande Faro has become a central witness at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Her testimony is considered a “pivotal moment” for the commission as it investigates systemic corruption, “criminal capture,” and tender rigging within the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD).
R450 000
During her testimony Faro said; “A smear campaign started against me. It was alleged that I had misrepresented my qualifications and that I received a R450,000 voucher – from whom, I do not know. A forensic investigation was conducted.”
And here is one for the conspiracy theorists:
In January and February 2026, former Good party regional chair Siyanda Mayana alleged that Mayor Lobishe’s personal Capitec bank account was frozen due to suspicious transactions totaling roughly R450,000.
Mayana suggested the funds were illicit and potentially linked to the ANC’s headquarters, Luthuli House. He subsequently lodged a complaint with the Hawks and the Public Protector.
NMB’s Executive Mayor Lobishe categorically denied any wrongdoing. She stated the account was not “frozen” but “paused” for routine FICA compliance due to high-volume transactions from her side business selling synthetic hair.
The Mayor approached the Gqeberha High Court in February 2026 to interdict Mayana, seeking a retraction and apology for what she described as defamatory and “reckless” statements.
Faro Timeline:
Faro joined Nelson Mandela Bay in 2016 as the Chief of Metro Police, moving from her previous role as Deputy Metro Police Commissioner in Cape Town.
She completed her five-year term, providing leadership during the department’s formative years.
After her contract in the Bay ended, she applied for the top job in Pretoria. She was officially appointed as the Chief of Police for the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) on October 1, 2023.
Faro’s departure from NMB was a natural career progression rather than an exit under a cloud. In fact, her reputation as a “clean” and rigorous administrator was a key reason for her appointment in Tshwane, where she was specifically brought in to tackle deep-seated tender irregularities.
As of April 2026, she is currently in the news for testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where she has revealed that her efforts to halt irregular R800 million security tenders in Tshwane have triggered a “smear campaign” against her—similar to the pushback often faced by officials who enforce strict compliance.
Madlanga Commission
The Madlanga Commission, headed by retired judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has been hearing explosive evidence regarding the infiltration of organized crime into the police service.
“Criminals in Uniform”: During her testimony yesterday (April 7, 2026), Faro expressed her “shock and dismay” at the siphoning of money within her department. She stated categorically, “I hate criminals in uniform,” and distanced her office from rogue officers like Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, who was recently arrested for allegedly lying to the commission.
The “Watchmen” Tenders: Faro has been moving to cut the “watchmen services” budget (private security for municipal buildings). She testified that these tenders—worth hundreds of millions—are often abused by politically connected individuals.
Sabotage Warnings: She warned the commission to expect sabotage and backlash from the private security industry as a result of these budget cuts, noting that “people are not going to say ‘oh no it’s fine'” when their revenue streams are closed.
Lack of Security Clearance: In a move for transparency, Faro revealed that several senior TMPD officials do not have top-secret security clearance. She is now calling for compulsory vetting to restore the department’s integrity.
The “NMB Connection”
For residents in Gqeberha, Faro’s testimony is particularly interesting because she has been applying the same “clean sweep” methodology she was known for during her tenure in Nelson Mandela Bay.
While her move to Tshwane in late 2023 was a step up to the Capital City, the Madlanga Commission has highlighted that she has faced significant resistance from internal “cartels” that pre-date her arrival.
This video provides a live look at Yolande Faro’s April 2026 testimony where she addresses the “criminal capture” of the metro police.
