The Chief Magistrate of the Pretoria Regional Court, Vusimuzi Mahlangu, has officially recused himself from presiding over the high-profile corruption case involving South Africa’s Crime Intelligence boss, Dumisani Khumalo, and six senior officials....Click to Read More >>➤
Khumalo and his co-accused appeared in court on Tuesday, where Magistrate Mahlangu informed the court that he could not proceed with the matter because he had been subpoenaed to testify before the Madlanga Commission.
As a result, the case has been postponed to Wednesday to allow for the appointment of a new magistrate.
Those appearing alongside Khumalo include the Crime Intelligence unit’s Chief Financial Officer, Philani Lushaba; Head of the Analysis Centre, Precious Madondo; Gauteng Head of Crime Intelligence, Josias Lekalakala; SAPS Technology Services official, Zwelitini Gabela; Head of the Vetting Office, Cynthia Ncube; and Technical Support System Manager, Dineo Mokwele.
All the accused — except Mokwele — are facing charges of fraud and corruption related to her controversial appointment as a brigadier within the Crime Intelligence division last year. The position, which falls under a highly specialised national covert operations unit, reportedly required qualifications and experience that Mokwele allegedly falsified.
According to court documents, Mokwele, 30, is accused of submitting fraudulent credentials to secure the post, while the others allegedly played roles in facilitating or approving her appointment.
The development marks another delay in a case that has drawn national attention due to the seniority of the officials involved and the sensitive nature of the department’s operations.
Magistrate Mahlangu’s recusal follows his subpoena to appear before the Madlanga Commission, which is currently investigating allegations of judicial misconduct and corruption within the justice system. His involvement as a witness made it ethically inappropriate for him to continue handling the Crime Intelligence matter.
The case is now expected to resume on Wednesday under a newly appointed magistrate, who will oversee pre-trial proceedings and determine the next hearing dates.
The accused remain out on bail as the state prepares to present further evidence on the alleged manipulation of internal recruitment processes and financial irregularities within the intelligence unit.
This corruption case comes amid growing scrutiny of internal SAPS structures, with several senior officers across divisions currently facing investigations into procurement fraud, irregular appointments, and abuse of authority. ...Click to Read More >>➤
