Latest news with #Lushaba
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Crime Intelligence CFO and others granted bail in burglary cover-up
Investigating Directorates Against Corruption officers arrested the officials after an extensive investigation A former Acting Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence and chief financial officer (CFO) and three police officers have been granted bail. Major General Nicholas Lushaba, together with three of his co-accused, Warrant Officer Jonny Mogashwa, Captain Glen Hudson and Colonel Eugene Pitout (retired), appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Friday. Charges Investigating Directorates Against Corruption (IDAC) officers arrested the crime intelligence officials after an extensive investigation into allegations of state capture and corruption within law enforcement. IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the officials are facing charges of corruption, perjury and defeating the administration of justice. 'Their matter was postponed to 13 August 2025 for disclosure and the provision of an indictment. All accused were granted R3 000 bail each with stringent conditions attached'. The state did not oppose bail. ALSO READ: Sars official testifies against company linked to blue lights corruption case Interference Their court appearance stems from an incident that occurred from August 5, 2022, to April 30, 2024, when Major General Lushaba reported a case of theft. It is understood that the items were stolen from his Pretoria home, allegedly by a sex worker. But Lushaba alleged at the time that it was a burglary. False statements It is alleged that Lushaba interfered with the investigation and falsely made statements about the incident with the assistance of his co-accused to avoid accountability for his conduct as a senior member of the South African Police Service (Saps). Mamothame said Lushaba's actions with the assistance of Mogashwa, Hudson and Pitout and their subsequent actions led to the closing of the docket in which he was a complainant. 'This resulted in them being charged by IDAC on allegations of corruption, perjury and defeating the administration of justice'. Mogashwa and Hudson were handcuffed on Thursday, while Lushaba and Pitout handed themselves over to IDAC investigating officers on Friday. ALSO READ: Former MP among seven arrested for alleged corruption 'Missing' Earlier this week, police said they were unaware of the alleged disappearance of Lushaba, despite reports that he had failed to report for duty and could not be reached. According to the DA's Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Lushaba went missing on June 6, the very day the IDAC was expected to question him about his alleged involvement in irregular property acquisitions worth more than R45 million. The purchases, currently under scrutiny, include a luxury boutique hotel in Nina Park, reportedly bought for R22.7 million, and a commercial property in Berea, Durban, acquired for R22.8 million – both funded by Crime Intelligence, allegedly without the required approvals. ALSO READ: Corruption crisis deepens within Gauteng police force
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
DA claims on missing official not true
Police say they are unaware of the alleged disappearance of Major-General Philani Lushaba, the CFO of SAPS Crime Intelligence, despite reports that he has failed to report for duty and cannot be reached. According to the DA's Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Lushaba went missing on June 6, the very day the National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate was expected to question him about his alleged involvement in irregular property acquisitions worth more than R45-million. She confirmed to Rekord that on June 10, his whereabouts were still unknown. These purchases, currently under scrutiny, include a luxury boutique hotel in Nina Park, reportedly bought for R22.7-million, and a commercial property in Berea, Durban, acquired for R22.8-million. 'The hotel in Pretoria North, which includes four dining rooms, a gym, and a swimming pool, was previously used by businessmen visiting nearby Rosslyn,' said Kohler-Barnard. 'It is deeply concerning that such an extravagant purchase was made while many police officers, including senior Crime Intelligence members, are reportedly working from broken furniture in dilapidated offices or, in some cases, from their vehicles.' She said both transactions were allegedly authorised by Lushaba and Crime Intelligence head Major-General Dumisani Khumalo, without the required consent from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. At the time when these acquisitions became public, Kohler-Barnard called for an investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) and such an investigation was launched, focusing on what she explained as the misuse of state funds. The IGI's report has since been concluded, but has not yet been made public. Kohler-Barnard also raised concerns about whether the necessary steps were taken to seek available government-owned properties before resorting to purchasing high-end private assets. 'Did the Crime Intelligence Unit approach the Minister of Public Works to find a suitable existing facility for its needs? That remains unanswered,' she said. James de Villiers, spokesman for the Public Works minister, confirmed to Rekord at the time of the call for the investigation that no such request had been received. Despite the gravity of the claims, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the police are 'unaware of the disappearance of any senior manager'. The DA has submitted urgent parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police to determine the full contents of the IGI's report and whether further misconduct has been uncovered. The party is also writing to the chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to request that top SAPS Crime Intelligence officials be summoned before Parliament to account for the scandal. She said the incident has reignited concerns about endemic corruption within SAPS Crime Intelligence, a unit long dogged by allegations of misconduct, including under former disgraced head Richard Mdluli. 'The IGI's report must serve as a line in the sand,' the DA said. 'Without swift action to purge senior management of corrupt elements, there is little hope of restoring credibility to SAPS' intelligence function or protecting South Africans from the threat of organised crime and state capture.' Kohler-Barnard confirmed that the Crime Intelligence head, who allegedly has also been probed in the property deal investigation, is at work. The National Coloured Congress (NCC) accused the DA on June 9 of falsely claiming credit for filing fraud, nepotism, and obstruction of justice charges against senior police officials. NCC leader Fadiel Adams criticised the DA and stated it was he who initially had laid the charges against senior SAPS figures, condemning the DA for shielding crime yet taking credit when exposed. Kohler-Barnard said that when she first became aware of the property purchases, she asked the office of the IGI to investigate. 'He has completed his investigation and has given me permission in writing to speak as I have. I have no knowledge of what Mr Adams does or does not do. He is not a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Claims that top crime boss has vanished amidst property scandal probe
Police Ministry says it is not aware of the disappearance of Major-General Philani Lushaba, the Chief Financial Officer of Crime Intelligence unit, who allegedly vanished amid R45 million property scandal. Image: Supplied The SAPS and Police Ministry say they are not aware of the disappearance of Major-General Philani Lushaba, the chief financial officer of the SAPS Crime Intelligence unit, who allegedly vanished as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was preparing to question him about his involvement in financial misconduct linked to over a multi-million Rand property scandal. The unit allegedly spent more than R45 million on irregular property purchases without proper approvals, triggering an investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI). The DA said Lushaba failed to report for duty on Friday and was unreachable. The party said Lushaba's disappearance followed closely on the conclusion of an investigation by IGI into unlawful property acquisitions by the unit. However, both the Police Ministry's spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi, and SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, said they are not aware of Lushaba's disappearance. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Independent Media also reached out to Lushaba and he answered his phone but declined to comment. 'I think you should know where to direct inquiries in the SAPS,' he said. NPA spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, did not respond to a request for comment. On Sunday, DA member of Parliament, Dianne Kohler Barnard, said the party had asked about Lushaba's whereabouts and had heard nothing in response. At the centre of the scandal are two expensive acquisitions - a R22.7m Pretoria boutique hotel and a R22.8m Durban commercial property, allegedly approved by Lushaba and Crime Intelligence head Maj-Gen Dumisani Khumalo without Treasury or Public Works oversight. 'The scale of spending, the lack of transparency, and the irregular process raise serious questions about possible corruption and abuse of public funds,' said Barnard. Barnard said that the DA has submitted urgent parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police to determine the contents of the IGI's report and to establish whether further misconduct has been uncovered. Barnard said the party would also write to the chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to demand that the SAPS leadership, including Crime Intelligence's top officials, be summoned to account before Parliament. 'The IGI's report must now serve as a turning point. Without urgent action to remove corrupt elements from senior management, there can be no hope of restoring credibility to SAPS' intelligence function - or protecting South Africans from organised crime and criminal capture, said Barnard, adding that law enforcement must treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. Lushaba is not new to controversy. He lost his state firearm and laptop after he was allegedly robbed by a sex worker in 2022. Barnard said the SAPS Crime Intelligence division has a long, troubling record of corruption. 'For too long, this vital unit has been plagued by looting, political interference, and lawlessness." The division has also suffered from repeated leadership instability, internal leaks and operation failures. This was highlighted in a parliamentary committee in March 2025, where issues of persistent political interference and resource mismanagement were raised as weakening the division's ability to combat crime.
