IDAC provisionally withdraws R191m SAPS ‘blue lights’ case against Khomotso Phahlane - IOL

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has provisionally withdrawn the corruption case against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused over a R191 million South African Police Service (SAPS) emergency warning equipment contract.

IDAC said the decision followed careful consideration by Acting Investigating Director Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, who intends to peruse certain aspects of the case before it is re-enrolled.

The matter relates to a 2016 contract awarded for the supply of emergency warning equipment to SAPS. The contract was worth just over R191 million, of which about R65 million was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd.

According to IDAC, a further payment of R22 million was prevented from being made at an advanced stage of its investigation.

The accused face charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering.

IDAC said the matter had previously been subjected to scrutiny by its Review Panel, which found that the investigation had been properly authorised and fell within the directorate's mandate.

Phahlane is charged alongside several former and serving senior police officials.

They include former Deputy National Commissioner for Human Resources Management Lieutenant General Bonang Mgwenya, former Gauteng Police Commissioner Deliwe de Lange, Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, retired Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena and retired Major General Ravichandran Pillay.

Colonel Thomas Dumas Marima and Sergeant Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa are also among the accused.

The civilian accused are Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews and Vimpie Manthata, who is identified by IDAC as the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement.

The accused had previously sought to have the matter struck off the court roll, but their application was dismissed.

IDAC said the provisional withdrawal was intended to allow Vanara to consider certain aspects of the case before it is brought back before the court.

The directorate did not provide a date for when the matter would be re-enrolled.

The charges remain allegations and the accused are presumed innocent unless and until convicted by a court.

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