The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) has provisionally withdrawn all charges against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused in a R191-million blue lights tender case. The case, which implicated Phahlane and others in alleged corruption, was first brought to light ten years ago. Phahlane was appointed acting national police commissioner by former president Jacob Zuma in 2015 but was told to step aside two years later amid corruption allegations.
Phahlane and his co-accused were facing charges of corruption, fraud, theft, and money laundering linked to a 2016 contract to supply emergency warning equipment to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The contract was awarded to Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd at a cost of just over R191-million. However, only R65-million was paid to the service provider, and a payment of R22-million was prevented from being paid at an advanced stage of the investigations by Idac.
The withdrawal of the case comes as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reviews all the cases handled by Idac, with over 40 high-profile matters under scrutiny. According to national spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, the review is part of the "reset of Idac". The review includes Crime Intelligence cases, and Kganyago stated that the matters being reviewed are numerous.
The Phahlane case is the second high-profile case involving a senior police official to be withdrawn in recent weeks. The case against suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola was also dropped, with Masemola facing four charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act in a case involving a police tender awarded in 2024.
Phahlane was charged alongside several other senior police officials and civilians, including former deputy national commissioner for human resources management Lieutenant General Bonang Mgwenya and Vimpie Manthata, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd. Phahlane argued that he had been caught up in a "destructive battle for the soul and control of the South African Police Service".
Idac spokesperson Henry Mamothame stated that the decision to provisionally withdraw the criminal case was taken after Idac's acting investigating director, advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, decided to "peruse certain aspects" of the matter before it is re-enrolled. The case may be re-enrolled after the review.
Phahlane's long-standing battle with the SAPS has been ongoing since 2017. In June 2022, he approached the Public Protector, asking that the circumstances surrounding the end of his police career be investigated. Phahlane claimed he was being made to take the blame for matters he insisted he had nothing to do with.
Key points
- The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has provisionally withdrawn the R191m corruption case against ex-police chief Khomotso Phahlane.
- The withdrawal is part of a larger review of over 40 high-profile cases handled by Idac.
- Phahlane was accused of corruption, fraud, theft, and money laundering linked to a 2016 contract to supply emergency warning equipment to the SAPS.
