The investigation into South African Police Service Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and seven co-accused will continue despite the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to withdraw corruption charges before plea.
National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi directed that the charges be withdrawn after considering representations from the accused and advice from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), which confirmed its investigation has not yet been finalised.
The NPA stressed that the withdrawal does not amount to a finding that the accused have been cleared of wrongdoing.
Instead, it said the decision was taken because the investigation remains incomplete, with prosecutors awaiting the outcome before determining whether the matter should proceed.
According to the NPA, the case may only be re-enrolled once IDAC has concluded its investigation and with the written approval of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The authority added that, should prosecutors decide to reinstate the charges, the accused will first be given another opportunity to make representations before any decision is made.
Lieutenant-General Khumalo and the seven co-accused had been facing corruption charges linked to an ongoing IDAC investigation. The matter has now been removed from the court roll pending the completion of the investigation and any further decision by the National Director.