Khumalo stays on as Crime Intelligence boss after charges withdrawn

Crime intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo will carry on running the police spy unit and the political killings task team after fraud and corruption charges against him and six senior officers were withdrawn on Friday.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said acting national commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane welcomed the withdrawal of the charges in the Pretoria Magistrates' Court.

"The SAPS is confident that the withdrawal of the charges will allow the senior officers to refocus fully on their mandate of preventing and combating crime," Mathe said.

"The work is cut out for the SAPS, and the organisation remains resolute in taking down highly organised criminal networks and bringing serious and violent criminals to justice."

Khumalo is the divisional commissioner of crime intelligence and the project manager of the political killings task team, the unit whose disbandment is the central issue before the Madlanga Commission.

Mathe said he would keep his focus on intelligence-driven operations, dismantling organised criminal networks and disrupting syndicates.

Khumalo and his co-accused were arrested by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption in June last year over the appointment of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele as head of crime intelligence's technical support services.

IDAC alleged Mokwele did not have the qualifications for the post and that the senior officers had manipulated the recruitment process to capture the division.

The Madlanga Commission heard Mokwele was not only qualified but overqualified for the job, which cut the ground out from under the state's case.

National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi ordered the withdrawal in July after representations from the accused and a memorandum from IDAC.

Charged with Khumalo were crime intelligence chief financial officer Major General Philani Lushaba, intelligence analysis and co-ordination head Major General Nosipho Madondo, Gauteng intelligence head Major General Josias Lekalakala, Major General Zwelithini Gabela, Brigadier Phindile Ncube and Mokwele.

Mathe said rebuilding the division was a priority for police management.

"As part of the SAPS Reset Agenda, strengthening intelligence and leadership capacity remains an apex priority for the acting national commissioner," she said.

"The SAPS will continue to build a stronger, intelligence-led organisation focused on delivering results and keeping communities safe."