EDITORIAL | Collapse of high-profile case exposes gaps in anti-corruption investigations

Friday marked the state’s unconditional withdrawal of corruption charges against head of South African Police Service crime intelligence Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, Brig Dineo Mokwele and their co-accused in the Pretoria magistrate’s court.

They faced fraud and corruption charges related to the alleged irregular appointment of Mokwele to a senior position in the crime intelligence unit without proper qualifications.

The case is not merely the collapse of one prosecution. It raises fundamental questions about how the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) investigates, evaluates evidence and exercises the extraordinary powers entrusted to it.

In July, national director of public prosecutions Andy Mothibi signed a provisional withdrawal of the case against Khumalo , Mokwele and other senior crime intelligence officials before charges were formally withdrawn in court on Friday.

This ordeal has taken a toll on some of the accused. Speaking after her court appearance on Friday, Mokwele said she entered the public service with the belief that her skills and experience will contribute to nation-building.

“Instead I found myself being arrested, prosecuted and portrayed in a manner that is inconsistent with who I am and the life I have built.”

Watching my name become national news while I was still trying to understand what was happening was devastating.

She said being arrested and being driven to court behind a police van was not an experience she would wish even on her worst enemy.

“Watching my name become national news while I was still trying to understand what was happening was devastating.”

The withdrawal came after devastating evidence at the Madlanga commission exposed weaknesses in the investigation.

The most damaging revelation concerned Mokwele herself. Idac had presented her as an “unqualified civilian” whose appointment to a senior crime intelligence technical position formed the centrepiece of Idac’s corruption case.

Yet evidence before the commission established that she possessed, among other qualifications, a national diploma in mechatronics engineering and a degree in industrial engineering.

Idac head Andrea Johnson, who resigned midway through her testimony at the commission, subsequently conceded that Mokwele was qualified and apologised for the earlier characterisation.

That should never have emerged only under cross-examination at a public inquiry.