Latest news with #PhilaniLushaba
News24
02-07-2025
- News24
O'Sullivan gives Masemola one day to suspend dodgy crime intelligence heads, or else...
Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan has threatened to take legal action against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola if he doesn't suspend seven crime intelligence officers arrested for fraud and corruption. The officers, including crime intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and chief financial officer Philani Lushaba, were arrested by Idac for irregularly appointing someone to a senior position and were released on R10 000 bail each. O'Sullivan gave Masemola until 3 July to suspend the officers or face a court application compelling their suspension in the public interest. Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan has warned National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola that he will bring a court application compelling the police to suspend the seven crime intelligence officers implicated in fraud and corruption. Last week, the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) arrested crime intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, the unit's chief financial officer Philani Lushaba, and other police officials: Nosipho Madondo, Josias Lekalakala, Zwelithini Gabela, Phindile Ncube and Dineo Mokwele. Their charges relate to the irregular employment of Mokwele in a senior position of brigadier in technical support services. The group is alleged to have colluded in unlawfully appointing Mokwele to a top post. Khumalo, Lushaba, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele were granted R10 000 bail each. They were ordered not to enter any premises belonging to crime intelligence. READ: Crime intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo arrested on corruption charges In a letter sent to Masemola on Tuesday, lawyers representing O'Sullivan's nonprofit charitable organisation Forensics for Justice said Masemola had until Wednesday to implement the suspension of the seven police officials, as per the police's own prescripts. Forensics for Justice aims to expose and take action against corrupt office-bearers in the criminal justice system and other state-owned entities. Law firm Darryl Furman and Associates said O'Sullivan has been investigating some or all of the above-named officials since last year and had cause to provide a detailed file to the Office of the Inspector General of Intelligence in respect of corruption, nepotism and abuse of office. Our client is, therefore, pleased with the action taken by Idac and notes that the accused persons have all been charged with very serious offences, with six of the seven being released on bail. In the circumstances, we have been instructed to request that you urgently advise us of your intentions with regard to the suspension of the accused persons. Letter Furman said there is much public interest in the unacceptably high rate of crime in South Africa, especially when it is being perpetrated by five generals and two brigadiers, such as the accused. 'The public has the right to know what you, as the accounting officer of the SA Police Service, are doing about the accused persons. The public has a right to hear that they have been suspended or are being suspended,' the letter read. Furman warned Masemola that he was instructed to bring an urgent application to compel the police to act. Furman reminded Masemola that on 26 June at 7.41pm, O'Sullivan, the founder of Forensics for Justice, had sent him a message in respect of the accused. The message indicated that O'Sullivan understood Masemola has privately promised not to suspend Khumalo. The text to Masemola reads: I understand you have privately stated you will NOT suspend him, or any of the others going down with him. You are given until Monday to suspend them all, or I will launch an urgent application in the high court and will also call for your suspension. Louis Vuitton bag for the wife or not. Letter O'Sullivan's reference to the Louis Vuitton bag relates to allegations in which Masemola and other senior officials are accused of being gifted with money and expensive bags during a presentation by a prospective service provider who later raked in millions from the police service. 'Our client is of the opinion that Crime Intelligence has ceased to be an effective tool in the fight against serious crime in South Africa, because, in his view, the facts support that for at least the last 20 years it has been led by criminals. More importantly, if the accused persons are not suspended from their duties, they have the opportunity to not only attempt to cover their tracks, but also continue to commit further crimes,' the letter read. O'Sullivan said the fact that Lushaba, who controls a budget of R600 million, is languishing in prison, awaiting trial, begs the question: Do his colleagues bring his laptop to him in prison, so that he may effect electronic transfers?' The letter concluded: Finally, our instructions are to advise you, as we hereby do, that unless we receive your response by the close of business on 2 July 2025 to the effect that the accused persons are all to be suspended, pending disciplinary action, our client shall assume that you will not suspend the accused persons. Letter Furman said the instructions were to prepare and launch an urgent application in the high court to obtain an order that the accused be suspended, in the public interest. It was unclear whether the seven were suspended at the time of publication. The police had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Eyewitness News
28-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Crime Intelligence COO to remain in police custody after failure to disclose pending case against him
JOHANNESBURG - Crime Intelligence chief financial officer Philani Lushaba will remain in police custody following his failure to disclose that he has a pending case against him. Lushaba appeared alongside six crime intelligence senior officials, including the unit's head, Dumisani Khumalo, in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Friday. They were arrested on Thursday by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), facing charges of fraud and corruption. The matter relates to the appointment of Dineo Mokwele to the position of technical support system manager, a highly specialised division within Crime Intelligence responsible for national covert operations. IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame explained: 'Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele were granted R10,000 bail. They were ordered not to enter any premises of crime intelligence. 'Meanwhile, Lushaba will remain in custody as his matter is a schedule 6 criminal offence, owing to his pending case, and such did not reflect in his affidavit presented to the court for bail application… IDAC is ready to proceed with the trial.'
The Herald
28-06-2025
- The Herald
Crime intelligence boss and co-accused granted bail
The head of crime intelligence, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, along with some of his co-accused, was each granted R10,000 bail by the Pretoria magistrate's court on Friday. They are facing charges of fraud and corruption relating to the appointment of an unqualified civilian in a senior post in the SAPS. Their court appearance follows their arrest on Thursday by the NPA's Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). Khumalo is charged with Maj-Gen Philani Lushaba (CFO at crime intelligence), Maj-Gen Nosipho Precious Madondo (component head of intelligence analysis and co-ordination), Maj-Gen Josias Lekalaka (Gauteng provincial head: crime intelligence), Maj-Gen Zwelithini Gabela (technical management services), Brig Phindile Ncube (section head: personnel security — vetting) and Brig Dineo Mokwele. Their charges relate to the alleged irregular employment of Mokwele in the senior ranking position of brigadier in the technical support services (TSS). According to Investigative Directorate spokesperson Henry Mamothame, it is alleged that Khumalo acting in common purpose with his co-accused were involved in the irregular appointment of Mokwele. 'They are further accused of flouting the vetting process which is critical in the appointment of senior officials within the SAPS, particularly the crime intelligence division which deals with sensitive and confidential information. This case forms part of IDAC's broader mandate of investigating fraud and corruption within government entities to prevent state capture through these critical entities,' Mamothame said. Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele were granted R10,000 bail. They were ordered not to enter any premises belonging to crime intelligence. Mamothame said Lushaba would remain in custody as his matter was a schedule 6 criminal offence, owing to his pending case, and this did not reflect in his affidavit presented to the court for the bail application. The case has been postponed to August 13 for disclosure of the docket. TimesLIVE
eNCA
27-06-2025
- eNCA
Crime Intelligence boss, 5 co-accused granted R10,000 bail
JOHANNESBURG - Police Crime Intelligence boss, Dumisani Khumalo, along with five of his six co-accused, have been granted R10,000 bail each. This is despite the group requesting as little as R1,000. The Magistrate at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court said the amount was an insult to the justice system and refused. A seventh accused, Philani Lushaba, faces a pending corruption case and has to reapply for bail under a Schedule 6 offence. The others face a schedule 5 offence as they have no other cases. The group face four charges of corruption and fraud amounting to R1 million. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the Commissioner is still waiting for a report on the case.
News24
27-06-2025
- News24
‘CRIMINAL' INTELLIGENCE: Top cop spooks, barring one, granted bail
The Pretoria Magistrate's Court has granted bail to six senior Crime Intelligence (CI) officers who were arrested on Thursday. The seventh, Crime Intelligence CFO Philani Lushaba, was remanded in custody. National CI head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo and others were arrested by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption. Those arrested: - Major General Philani Lushaba, CI's chief financial officer (his second arrest in two weeks). - Major General Josias Lekalakala, the Gauteng head of CI. - Major General Nozipho Madondo, the head of the analysis centre. - Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, whose appointment as a technical support system manager is at the core of the charges. - Brigadier Phindile Ncube who is in charge of the vetting office. - Major General Sydney Gabela who works for the police's technology services. Acting Chief Magistrate VLM Mahlangu remitted Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube, Mokwele on bail of R10 000. Because of Lushaba's arrest last week in another criminal matter, his application was dismissed. He was remanded in custody and must bring a formal bail application anew. All seven indicated their intention to plead not guilty on charges of fraud and corruption, with four counts of each alleged offence detailed in the charge sheet. IDAC prosecutors did not oppose bail. However, they told the court they intended to show that Khumalo, Lushaba, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, and Ncube acted in common purpose to appoint Mokwele contrary to anti-corruption laws. Mokwele is being charged with corruption for accepting the gift of the job as brigadier, which prosecutors appear set to argue was an undue gratification. The fraud charges stem from misrepresentations and false information supplied during Mokwele's appointment process and during statements the accused made to the public, the National Treasury and internally within the police. The matter will return to court on 13 August.
