The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has provisionally withdrawn a multimillion-rand corruption case against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his 10 co-accused.
The case, worth R191 million and involving police emergency warning equipment, was withdrawn at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday after acting investigating director advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara decided to review certain aspects before re-enrolling it.
The matter had been set down for trial from 5 to 16 October.
Background to the case
Phahlane and the other accused faced charges of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering related to a 2016 contract to supply emergency warning equipment, including blue lights and sirens, for South African Police Service vehicles.
The contract was awarded to Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, a company owned by businessman Vimpie Manthata. The directorate says R65 million was paid to the service provider, while investigators prevented a further R22 million payment at an advanced stage of the investigation.
The accused
Besides Phahlane, the following people were charged: 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; colonel Thomas Dumas Marima and sergeant Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa.
Three civilians were also charged: Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews and Manthata, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement.
Years of delays
The case has been marred by repeated postponements since 2018. In December 2020, the court dismissed an attempt by the accused to have the matter struck off the roll, finding that the state was ready to proceed.
However, the trial faced further delays due to disputes over the charge sheet and disclosure of evidence. In June 2025, magistrate Ashika Ramlal criticised the prosecution and ordered the state to provide every accused with a complete and accurate charge sheet.
Phahlane’s lawyer, Piet du Plessis, had asked that the charges be withdrawn, saying: “It’s 2025, and the state still does not have a charge sheet for a 2018 case.”
The matter was eventually scheduled for trial in July 2025, with the trial set to begin on 5 October.
Provisional withdrawal
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the matter has already been subjected to the review panel and was found to have been properly authorised and to fall within the directorate’s mandate.
The provisional withdrawal means the case can be re-enrolled at a later stage once Vanara has completed his review of the matter.
