The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has moved to withdraw the fraud and corruption charges against Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, Brigadier Dineo Mokwele and their co-accused, following revelations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that have raised serious questions about the investigation and the decision to prosecute them.
The case stemmed from the June 2025 arrests of Khumalo, Mokwele and other senior Crime Intelligence officials over the alleged irregular appointment of Mokwele to a senior position within Crime Intelligence. The accused have consistently denied wrongdoing.
The latest development comes after weeks of testimony at the Madlanga Commission, where the circumstances surrounding the investigation, authorisation of the case and evidence used against the officials came under intense scrutiny.
Charges formally withdrawn
The NPA is expected to formally withdraw the charges, with National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi having ordered that the charges against Khumalo, Mokwele and the other accused be withdrawn.
The decision follows revelations that have cast doubt on the way the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) built its case.
According to reports, the commission heard that the original Section 27 referral affidavit named only three senior SAPS officers, but that the number of people targeted later expanded to 12. Questions were also raised about the authorisation process and whether investigators had sufficient evidence before summonses were issued.
Andrea Johnson’s evidence under scrutiny
Former IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson’s testimony became a key part of the controversy.
Johnson was questioned about the legal basis for the investigation into Khumalo and other Crime Intelligence officials. She conceded that she had signed off on summonses based on information presented to her by investigators without independently verifying the allegations.
Johnson told the commission she had “no reason to doubt the briefing that the investigator gave me”.
She also acknowledged that investigators within IDAC may have pursued certain investigations without the necessary authorisation.
The commission further heard allegations concerning supplementary statements and questions surrounding the authenticity of documentation relied upon during the investigation.
Mokwele appointment at the centre of the case
At the heart of the prosecution was the appointment of Mokwele, a former BMW engineer, to a position as a Crime Intelligence brigadier.
The investigation had questioned her qualifications and the circumstances surrounding her appointment. However, evidence presented during the Madlanga Commission challenged some of the assumptions underpinning the case, including claims concerning her qualifications and experience.
The charges against Khumalo and the other officials were provisionally withdrawn before the NPA’s latest move, while the commission continued examining the circumstances surrounding their arrests and prosecution.
Arrests that triggered a wider police crisis
The arrests had consequences far beyond the criminal case itself.
They became a major trigger for KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive July 2025 allegations about alleged corruption, political interference and the infiltration of the criminal justice system.
Mkhwanazi’s claims ultimately contributed to the establishment of the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
The commission has since heard evidence about alleged interference in investigations and the conduct of various law-enforcement agencies.
What the withdrawal means
The withdrawal of the charges does not amount to a finding by a court that the accused were innocent of the allegations. Rather, it means the prosecution is no longer proceeding with the charges in their current form.
The decision places renewed focus on whether the original investigation met the required legal and evidentiary thresholds and whether the process used to bring the officials before court was properly authorised.
It also leaves the Madlanga Commission with significant questions to examine about how the case was initiated, how evidence was gathered and why senior Crime Intelligence officials were arrested and prosecuted.
The developments surrounding Khumalo and Mokwele have therefore become one of the most closely watched aspects of the inquiry, particularly as evidence from former IDAC officials continues to expose alleged weaknesses in the investigation.
For Khumalo, Mokwele and their co-accused, the withdrawal represents a major legal development after more than a year of facing serious fraud and corruption allegations.
