Case Against Crime Intelligence Boss Dumisani Khumalo Postponed

• The case against crime intelligence boss General Dumisani Khumalo was postponed after he appeared in court on 15 October 2025
• He appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates Court after he was arrested in June for allegedly irregularly appointing a senior police officer
• The presiding officer in the case recused himself, and the state filed an application for his recusal to be reviewed

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The court case against crime intelligence boss General Dumisani Khumalo was postponed after the presiding officer, Chief Magistrate Vusimuzi Mahlangu, recused himself. The state filed an application to review the recusal.

According to SABC News, Khumalo's case was postponed to 6 November after Mahlangu recused himself from the case. Mahlangu announced his decision on 13 October. He was subpoenaed to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

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State applies to review recusal

The state applied to have his recusal reviewed. The spokesperson of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Henry Mamothane, said that IDAC did not view him as a biased presiding officer.

Why was Khumalo arrested?

Khumalo was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport on 26 June 2025. The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed his arrest. Khumalo was charged with fraud and corruption. He and other senior police officers were charged with allegedly irregularly appointing 30-year-old Dineo Mokwele for a position she was not qualified for.

Months after his arrest, he appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and testified about the alleged infiltration of the criminal justice system by a group of criminal cartels. President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on 13 July, following allegations by KwaZulu-Natal's Provincial Commissioner General, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that the criminal justice system had been infiltrated. He also implicated the sidelined Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, and accused him of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team for the benefit of the cartels.

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What you need to know about Khumalo's testimony

• Khumalo said political killings surged after the 2021 local government elections because politicians refused to allow their votes to be swayed
• Khumalo also said that politicians faked assassination attempts to get more funds for their security details
• Khumalso discussed the WhatsApp messages between businessman Bown Mogotsi and attempted murder-accused and alleged cartel boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala
• The WhatsApp messages also revealed how annoyed Matlala was that Mchunu cancelled a South African Police Service tender worth millions
• His testimony was halted after he fell ill during his testimony, and the proceedings were postponed

Malesela Teffo requests to be court's friend

In a related article, Briefly News reported that former Advocate Malesela Teffo requested to be a friend of the court. He made his request when Khumalo appeared at the Pretoria Magistrates Court.

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Madlanga Commission halts testimony after secret witness's security compromised

Teffo said Khumalo and the other applicants are dangerous people, and they were influential in his imprisonment. Khumalo's defence argued that Teffo had not submitted a formal request and should therefore not be allowed to address the court.

Source: Briefly News