Philani Lushaba
By Thabo Mosai
Philani Lushaba, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of South Africa’s Crime Intelligence unit, will remain in police custody after failing to disclose a pending corruption case during his bail application. Lushaba appeared alongside six senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials, including Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Friday, 27 June 2025. The group faces charges of fraud and corruption linked to the controversial appointment of Dineo Mokwele to a specialized position within Crime Intelligence. While Khumalo and five others were granted R10,000 bail each, Lushaba’s bail was denied due to his undisclosed pending case, which escalated his charges to a Schedule 6 offence.
Arrest and Charges: A High-Profile Corruption Case
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) arrested the seven officials on Thursday, 26 June 2025, following an investigation into the appointment of 30-year-old Dineo Mokwele as technical support system manager—a critical role in Crime Intelligence’s covert operations division. The State alleges that the accused colluded to bypass standard SAPS recruitment protocols, appointing Mokwele despite her alleged lack of qualifications and submission of a falsified CV.
Mokwele, who earned a R55,000 monthly salary, reportedly cost the State over R1 million between April 2024 and June 2025. The charges against the group include four counts of corruption and four counts of fraud, classified as Schedule 5 offences under the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. For Lushaba, the charges were upgraded to Schedule 6 due to his pending corruption case, requiring him to prove exceptional circumstances for bail—circumstances the court found lacking.
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame stated, “IDAC is ready to proceed with the trial. We remain fully committed to dismantling corruption syndicates and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
Court Proceedings: Bail Granted with Strict Conditions
Magistrate Vusumuzi Mahlangu presided over the bail hearing, where the State did not oppose bail for the accused, citing their confirmed addresses, stable employment, and the completion of investigations. However, the court closely examined the accused’s financial capacity and the seriousness of the charges.
Each official submitted affidavits requesting R1,000 bail, claiming it was an amount they could not afford to lose. The magistrate criticized the affidavits as a “copy and paste” effort, noting their near-identical wording. The State proposed R20,000 bail, reflecting the estimated R1 million in damages, but the court settled on R10,000 per accused—except for Lushaba, whose bail was denied.
Bail Conditions
For the six accused granted bail—Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube, and Mokwele—the court imposed strict conditions:
Pay R10,000 bail each.
Prohibited from entering any Crime Intelligence premises nationwide.
Must contact Senior Investigator Abri Padayachi for work-related needs.
Surrender all work and private firearms to SAPS.
Hand over passports to Padayachi.
Lushaba, however, remains in custody. His failure to disclose his pending corruption case in his affidavit led the court to classify his charges as a Schedule 6 offence, requiring a new bail application.
Court’s Rationale
Magistrate Mahlangu applied the principle of in favor libertatis et innocentia (presumption of liberty and innocence), granting bail to six of the accused despite their weak affidavits. He noted that the court could have demanded property title deeds as surety but opted for leniency due to the State’s non-opposition.
Who Are the Accused?
The seven officials are senior figures within Crime Intelligence, holding significant influence within SAPS:
- Dumisani Khumalo (56) – Lieutenant General, Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence. Net salary: R74,000. Resides at 68A Moonflower Crescent, Centurion.
- Philani Lushaba (41) – Major General, CFO of Crime Intelligence. Net salary: R65,000. Resides at 1564B Maring Street, Waverley, Pretoria. Denied bail.
- Precious Mondo (49) – Major General, Component Head of Intelligence Analysis and Coordination. Net salary: R55,000. Resides at 14 Louisa Park, Roy Street, Centurion.
- Merisa Josia (56) – Major General, Provincial Head of Crime Intelligence, Gauteng. Net salary: R51,000. Resides at 949 Tangangeria Road, Montana Park, Pretoria.
- Sidney Zitini Gabella (56) – General, Technology Management Services. Net salary: R50,000. Resides at 582 Farad Street, Pretoria.
- Pindian M. (51) – Brigadier, Section Head of Personnel Security Vetting. Net salary: R48,000. Resides at Unit 6H Crescent, 81 Hawa Street, The Orchards Extension 36, Pretoria.
- Dineo Mokwele (30) – Rank unspecified, employed since November 2024 in Technical Support. Net salary: R50,000. Resides at 17 Roy Dry Boss Complex, Pretoria North.
Alleged Corruption: Abuse of Power and Public Funds
The State claims the accused abused their positions to appoint Mokwele, circumventing SAPS vetting processes. Mokwele’s CV allegedly included an incomplete MBA degree registered in 2024, and she lacked the policing expertise required for her role. The defence argued that the financial damage—salaries paid to one unqualified individual—was minor compared to larger corruption scandals, but the court emphasized the gravity of undermining national security protocols.
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