Seven high-ranking South African Police Service officials, including a Lieutenant General, appeared in court yesterday (27 June) on corruption charges relating to irregular appointments within the Crime Intelligence division.
The seven senior officials from the Crime Intelligence division appeared before the Pretoria Regional Court on charges of fraud and corruption following their arrest on Thursday, 26 June by the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
The most senior among the accused is Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the Divisional Commissioner in Crime Intelligence, who appeared alongside six co-accused on charges relating to the irregular appointment of an unqualified civilian to a senior position within SAPS. The charges centre around the irregular employment of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele in a senior ranking position within the Technical Support Services (TSS). According to IDAC, Khumalo and his co-accused are alleged to have acted in common purpose to facilitate Mokwele’s irregular appointment.
The officials are further accused of circumventing the critical vetting process required for senior appointments within SAPS, particularly in the Crime Intelligence division, which handles sensitive and confidential information.
The other accused are: • Major General Philani Lushaba (CFO at Crime Intelligence) • Major General Nosipho Precious Madondo (Component Head of Intelligence Analysis and Coordination) • Major General Josias Lekalaka (Gauteng Provincial Head: Crime Intelligence) • Major General Zwelithini Gabela (Technical Management Services) • Brigadier Phindile Ncube (Section Head: Personnel Security – Vetting) • Brigadier Dineo Mokwele
The matter was postponed to 13 August for disclosure. Six of the seven accused were granted R10 000 bail each, including Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalaka, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele. All six were ordered not to enter any Crime Intelligence premises as a condition of their bail.
However, Lushaba, who serves as Chief Financial Officer at Crime Intelligence, was denied bail and will remain in custody. His matter is classified as a schedule 6 criminal offence due to a pending case that was not reflected in his bail application affidavit.
NovaNews reported three weeks ago that Lushaba was being sought for his role in a dodgy property deal. At the centre of the scandal are two high-value property purchases: a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North acquired for R22.7 million and a commercial property in Berea, Durban purchased for R22.8 million. Both properties were reportedly funded by Crime Intelligence.
According to an investigation, these purchases were allegedly authorised by Lushaba and Khumalo, without obtaining the required approvals from the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The investigation, which has recently concluded, was initiated after the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), raised concerns about the suspicious transactions. The findings point to potential violations of procurement procedures and possible misuse of public funds.
The DA has welcomed this week’s arrests, with DA spokesperson on State Security, Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, describing it as “a welcomed step in rescuing an organisation on the brink of collapse.”
Barnard stated that the arrests point to “yet another serious breach of trust within a critical state institution tasked with performing our nation’s policing functions and mandate.”
The DA has undertaken to maintain a watching brief on the matter and expects more arrests to follow involving high-ranking SAPS officials.
This case forms part of IDAC’s broader mandate to investigate fraud and corruption within government entities to prevent state capture through critical institutions.
The DA highlighted additional concerns about Crime Intelligence’s financial management, referencing the questionable property purchases totalling over R45 million.
The arrests also come just over 10 days after Lushaba handed himself over to police following an incident where a sex worker allegedly stole his state-issued firearm and laptop. Lushaba was subsequently arrested for allegedly lying about the circumstances of the theft.
The DA has called on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to ensure that “the full might of the law prevails and that these arrests lead to the imprisonment of those found guilty of wrongdoing.”
Barnard noted that after years of state capture and corruption during the Zuma era, “Crime Intelligence essentially became a cash cow for Zuma-aligned cronies,” and expressed disappointment that the division has not successfully emerged from the controversies of the Richard Mdluli era.
