Johannesburg – The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has provisionally withdrawn the case against former acting police commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane.
IDAC said it provisionally withdrew the case against Phahlane and his co-accused after the Acting Investigating Director, Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, carefully considered certain aspects of the case before re-enrolling it.
This matter has already been subjected to the Review Panel and was found to have been properly authorised and that it falls within the IDAC’s mandate.
The accused were facing charges of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering.
Their matter relates to a contract to supply emergency warning equipment for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 2016.
The contract was worth just over R191 million.
However, R65m was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement(Pty) Ltd.
A payment of R22 million was also prevented from being paid at an advanced stage of the Investigations by the IDAC.
Phahlane was charged together with 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; Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena (retired Divisional Commissioner); retired Major General Ravichandran Pillay; Thomas Dumas Marima (Colonel) and Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa (Sergeant).
The civilians charged in the matter are Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews, Vimpie Manthata, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement(Pty) Ltd.
Their attempt to have the matter struck off the roll was previously dismissed by the court.
Commenting on the withdrawal of the charges, Phahlane stated that he had been targeted.
“The fact of the matter is that I had to be removed from the South African Police Service,” the former police chief said in an interview broadcast by SABC on Monday, 5 October 2026.
I had to be removed as an accounting officer.
“They had to find ways of getting me out of the system, and all these charges were concocted.
“I challenge you, IDAC, or anyone who is at least literate to peruse the docket, which is there… It’s over 500 affidavits.
“None of them will point the finger at me.”
