South Africa's criminal intelligence chief, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, was apprehended upon his arrival at Johannesburg's main international airport, reportedly by members of the anti-corruption unit.

He appeared in court in Pretoria alongside six senior police officers on Friday, all facing allegations of fraud and corruption.

Their legal representative indicated their intention to plead not guilty to the charges.

While details of the allegations remain unclear, local media link the arrests to an investigation into suspected mismanagement of intelligence funds and potential irregular appointments within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This development marks the second wave of arrests within the SAPS' Crime Intelligence unit in recent weeks, highlighting growing concerns about the unit's integrity.

The arrests come amid broader scrutiny of the unit's effectiveness in crime prevention and law enforcement.

The Democratic Alliance, a significant opposition party, welcomed the arrests, describing them as crucial steps toward restoring the institution's credibility.

They criticized the ongoing breaches of trust within SAPS, stressing the need for systemic reforms.

The Economic Freedom Fighters party condemned the incident, labeling it as symptomatic of deeper issues within South Africa's law enforcement system.

They called for urgent structural reforms to address what they perceive as a pervasive problem of corruption.

Lt-Gen Khumalo assumed leadership of the Crime Intelligence unit in 2022 after more than two decades in various police roles.

This arrest adds to a series of corruption cases that have marred the reputations of senior police officials in South Africa over the years.