The R54 million fraud and corruption trial involving former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has been delayed.
Pretoria High Court
1Min
South Africa
Defunct company forces fresh delay in R54m Phahlane fraud trial
The R54 million fraud and corruption trial involving former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has been delayed after the State discovered that a company named in the indictment no longer exists, forcing prosecutors to amend the charges.
The long-awaited R54 million fraud and corruption trial involving former acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane and five co-accused has been pushed back after prosecutors were forced to amend the indictment.
The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, postponed the matter on Monday, with the trial now scheduled to resume on Thursday, 12 November 2026.
The delay followed the State’s withdrawal of charges against an entity named in the indictment after the newly appointed prosecution team discovered that the company had ceased to exist.
The company’s director remains an accused in his personal capacity.
Phahlane, Lieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Mahwayi, Major-General Maanda Obert Nemutandzhela, Major-General Mankosana Agnes Makhele and businessmen Inbanathan Kistiah and Avendra Naidoo face charges including fraud, corruption, theft and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act.
The charges relate to two contracts worth approximately R54 million.
One of the cases centres on the alleged irregular procurement of RIPJAR software, which was intended for use during the October 2015 FeesMustFall student protests.
The second contract involves Daedalus, communication-encryption software that the State alleges was procured and used to encrypt calls and wipe cellphone records and messages.
The allegation surrounding Daedalus is particularly significant because the software was allegedly used at a time when Phahlane was being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) over the so-called “Blue Lights” police tender and other alleged procurement irregularities during his tenure as acting national police commissioner.
The prosecution’s discovery regarding the company has now delayed the start of proceedings as the indictment is amended to reflect the correct position of the accused parties.
The matter is expected back before the Pretoria High Court on Thursday, when proceedings are scheduled to continue.
