By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has arrested six high ranking officials in the police force – including two current serving major generals – in connection to a R54 million police tender from 2016.
Fullview understand one of the suspects is former national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.
The other suspects are acting head of the Crime Intelligence (CI) secret fund, Major-General Obed Nemutanzhela, Colonel Godfrey Mahwayi, head of CI in the Free State Major General Agnes Makhele.
The suspects were nabbed on Monday night and Tuesday morning. They are facing charges of fraud, corruption, and theft.
“The suspects were arrested in Durban, Bloemfontein, and various areas around Pretoria, while two of the suspects were arrested as they were boarding domestic flights from OR Tambo International Airport to Cape Town and Durban, respectively,” said Investigating Directorate (ID) spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka.
“The arrests are a result of joint stakeholder cooperation between the Investigating Directorate (ID) and IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] secondments assigned to the ID,” Seboka said.
She said the arrests are a further indication of the ID’s steadfast approach to rooting out corruption at all levels.
“The arrest of these very high ranking and seasoned police officials endorses the ID’s commitment to dealing with corruption and State capture, regardless of where it manifests itself,” she said.
The suspects include two businessmen from Durban, a current serving Lieutenant-Colonel and two Majors-General from Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
The suspects are two businessmen based in Durban, a former Lieutenant-General, a current serving Lieutenant-Colonel & two Majors-General from PTA & Bloem. They will appear in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 21/09/22, on charges of fraud, corruption, and theft.
— NPASouthAfrica (@NPA_Prosecutes) September 20, 2022
They are expected to make their first appearance at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
Phahlane has been embroiled in a series of fraud and corruption investigations by the IPID dating back to 2017.
Phahlane served as a top cop from October 2015 to June 2017 before being suspended due to a spate of corruptions allegations against him.