Pretoria – The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has welcomed the withdrawal of fraud and corruption charges against Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo and six others.
The charges were withdrawn earlier today, Friday 21 August 2026, by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) in a matter before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
The other exonerated officers include Major General Philani Lushaba (CFO at Crime Intelligence), Major General Nosipho Precious Madondo (Component Head of Intelligence Analysis and Co-ordination), Major General Josias Lekalakala (Gauteng Provincial Head: Crime Intelligence), Major General Zwelithini Gabela (Technical Management Services), Brigadier Phindile Ncube (Section Head: Personnel Security – Vetting and Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, after they were arrested and charged for corruption.
The charges were withdrawn after prosecutors conceded they lacked sufficient evidence to proceed.
“The SAPS is confident that the withdrawal of the charges will allow the senior officers to refocus fully on their mandate of preventing and combating crime,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
She explained that as Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence and Project Manager of the Political Killings Task Team, Lieutenant General Khumalo will continue to focus on strengthening intelligence-driven operations, dismantling highly organised criminal networks, disrupting criminal syndicates and ensuring that actionable intelligence supports targeted police operations.
“As part of the SAPS Reset Agenda, strengthening intelligence and leadership capacity remains an apex priority for the Acting National Commissioner,” stated Brigadier Mathe.
“The SAPS will continue to build a stronger, intelligence-led organisation focused on delivering results and keeping communities safe.
“The work is cut out for the SAPS, and the organisation remains resolute in taking down highly organised criminal networks and bringing serious and violent criminals to justice.”
In withdrawing the charges, National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Adv Andy Mothibi, invoked Section 179 (5) (c) of the Constitution read with Section 22(2) (b) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998.
These provisions allow the NDPP to intervene in any prosecution process when policy directives are not complied with.
The NDPP considered evidence gathered through investigations submitted by IDAC, representations submitted by the accused legal representatives, and several factors relating to the matter, including undisputed evidence tendered during the IDAC stream of the investigation before the Madlanga Commission.
The evidence pointed to serious irregularities in the handling of the case.
“The NDPP is aware that no findings have yet been made on the evidence placed before the Commission as no report has been submitted to the President,” said Kaizer Kganyago, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson.
“However, he took the view that the interests of justice and integrity of the IDAC and, by extension, the NPA, will be safeguarded with a decision to intervene as permitted by the Constitution and the NPA Act.
“In addition to the withdrawal of this case, the NPA has initiated disciplinary processes against the three suspended IDAC officials who were implicated in the Commission for their alleged improper conduct relating to this case.”
Kganyago revealed that the NPA has started the process to reset IDAC, putting in place plans to reform and reposition the unit to discharge its mandate optimally.
He said the reforms included lifestyle audits that were underway, and a skills and qualifications audit of all employees of IDAC.
Kganyago said this would ensure that the required skilled personnel were placed correctly and were fit for purpose, and that processes were put in place to enable a consistent way of dealing with matters.
These reforms are also meant to inspire public confidence in the institution, to ensure that it operates within the prescripts of the law and fulfils its mandate as announced by the Minister and NDPP at a press briefing on 30 July 2026.
Meanwhile, Kganyago said the process to appoint an acting Investigating Director was ongoing, and it is given the urgency that it requires.
“After all the processes are finalised, there will be communication to the public,” the NPA spokesperson said.
