Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, head of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence division, is expected to return to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today alongside six senior colleagues.
What the case is about
They face charges linked to alleged irregular appointments within SAPS and bypassing mandatory vetting procedures for senior positions.
The allegations centre on the appointment of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele to a senior technical support services role within Crime Intelligence. According to the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), the accused are alleged to have flouted vetting processes — a key requirement to ensure that senior officers handling sensitive and classified information are thoroughly screened before assuming their posts.
The vetting process is designed to prevent individuals with potential security risks, conflicts of interest, or questionable backgrounds from taking positions of high responsibility.
In this case, prosecutors claim the appointment went ahead despite irregularities.
Khumalo, appointed head of Crime Intelligence in December 2022, and his co-accused have denied the charges and indicated they will plead not guilty.
Who else is in the dock?
Alongside Dumisani Khumalo, the accused include:
- Major General Philani Lushaba – Chief Financial Officer of Crime Intelligence
- Major General Nosipho Precious Madondo – Head of Intelligence, Analysis and Coordination
- Major General Josias Lekalakala – Gauteng Crime Intelligence boss
- Major General Zwelithini Gabela – Technical Management Services officer
- Brigadier Phindile Ncube – Section Head of Personnel Vetting
- Brigadier Dineo Mokwele – Senior Technical Support Services member
All seven were granted bail at their last court appearance.
Background and political context
The arrests come after months of reported tension within SAPS Crime Intelligence. In a parliamentary briefing earlier this year, SAPS warned of “pushback” from individuals allegedly resisting reforms Khumalo had introduced, such as stricter controls on the use of informer rewards and redistribution of state vehicles from senior managers to operational units.
The presentation also alleged that misinformation campaigns were being used to undermine leadership in the division — reminiscent of tactics exposed during the State Capture era, when intelligence units were manipulated for political or personal gain.
Some political figures, such as MP Fadiel Adams of the National Coloured Congress, and anti-corruption campaigner Paul O’Sullivan, have also lodged complaints and called for action against certain officers.
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the arrests, describing them as “a step in rescuing an organisation on the brink of collapse,” while the Economic Freedom Fighters said the case reflected “a sick and hollowed-out policing system” in need of urgent overhaul.
For now, the matter remains in its early stages. It is unclear whether the accused will argue that they are victims of a political smear campaign or focus solely on challenging the charges in court.