Developing story: the trial returns to court on 9 November.
The corruption trial of former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and five co-accused has been postponed to 9 November, after the local government elections. The matter is before the High Court in Pretoria.
All of the accused are presumed innocent unless and until a court finds otherwise.
Why it was postponed
Henry Mamothame, spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), said the postponement "gives some of the accused, who reside outside Gauteng, an opportunity to vote". The case was moved to allow the elections to conclude.
The charges and the contracts
The accused face charges of fraud, corruption, theft and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. The charges relate to two police contracts worth about R54 million in total.
Mamothame said the first contract concerned RIPJAR software, which was "intended for use during the October 2015 #FeesMustFall protests by university students". The second concerned Daedalus encryption software, which he said "was allegedly used to encrypt calls and wipe cellphone records and messages".
Who is accused
- Khomotso Phahlane
- Lieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Mahwayi
- Major-General Maanda Obert Nemutandzhela
- Major-General Mankosana Agnes Makhele
- Businessmen Inbanathan Kistiah and Avendra Naidoo
The allegations against them have not been tested in court.
A separate case
Phahlane also appears in a separate matter involving a R191 million emergency warning equipment tender. IDAC has reportedly provisionally withdrawn charges against him and several co-accused in that case pending further consideration.
