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The Citizen
07-07-2025
- The Citizen
Ghost workers suspected in Saps
De Villiers emphasised that ghost-worker fraud extends beyond isolated incidents, describing it as sophisticated criminal activity. Parliament has demanded an immediate audit of suspected ghost employees within the South African Police Service (Saps) Crime Intelligence Division after seven senior officials were arrested on corruption charges between June and July 2025. Jan Naudè de Villiers, chairperson of the portfolio committee on public service and administration, recently submitted a formal request to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, calling for an independent investigation into payroll fraud and the possible existence of non-existent workers drawing salaries from Saps. The parliamentary intervention follows the arrest of high-ranking officials who appeared before the Pretoria Regional Court on fraud and corruption charges related to appointing an unqualified civilian to a senior position. Saps mass arrests target financial oversight officials De Villiers stated that between June and July 2025, authorities arrested seven senior Crime Intelligence officials responsible for financial oversight, personnel management, and internal controls. According to the chairperson, the arrested officials include Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the Divisional Commissioner, and Major General Philani Lushaba, who served as chief financial officer. Additionally, others arrested were Major General Josias Lekalakala, the Gauteng Crime Intelligence head, Major General Nosipho Madondo, head of Analysis Centre, and Maj-Gen Zwelithini Gabela from Technology Services. Two brigadiers, Dineo Mokwele from Technical Systems and Phindile Ncube, head of Vetting, were also taken into custody. ALSO READ: Mkhwanazi vs Mchunu: 5 things you need to know about their explosive feud Ghost workers raise Saps systemic fraud concerns De Villiers indicated the arrests have exposed potential widespread corruption within crime intelligence. The particular concern is about ghost workers, which de Villiers described as fictitious employees who fraudulently receive salaries and benefits from the Saps payroll system. These phantom workers represent a sophisticated form of payroll fraud that may have been operating within the division for an extended period. The parliamentary chairperson specifically highlighted concerns about the Secret Services Account, a classified budget line designated for covert operations and informant payments. According to parliament, the account has historically been identified as vulnerable to abuse, and many of the arrested officials had direct responsibility for managing these funds. 'It is reasonable to expect similar malpractice in payroll management… the possibility of irregular appointments, inflated headcounts and unvetted recruits of 'ghost' employees is high,' de Villiers stated in his formal request. ALSO READ: KZN's Mkhwanazi makes damning claims about Mchunu, senior police officials Comprehensive audit of ghost employees demanded The formal request calls for coordination between the National Treasury and the Public Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive audit of the Crime Intelligence division within 90 days. The audit must verify actual headcounts against personnel physically deployed and examine all Secret Service Account payments, including informant lists and payment records. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Minister of Finance and the Department of Public Service and Administration to identify and eliminate ghost employees across the public service sector. Organised criminal networks De Villiers emphasised that ghost-worker fraud extends beyond isolated incidents, describing it as sophisticated criminal activity. 'It takes sophisticated collusion to create and maintain these ghost-worker employees, who operate like organised criminal syndicates embedded in our government systems,' he explained. The chairperson expressed confidence that under Minister Mchunu's leadership, Saps could use this situation as an opportunity to demonstrate accountability and root out embedded corruption while reclaiming public funds for legitimate intelligence and public safety services. Public trust at stake De Villiers characterised the urgent audit as essential not only for financial accountability, but also for restoring public confidence in Crime Intelligence operations. The investigation aims to ensure that South Africa's intelligence-led policing is supported by a credible, ethical, and fully functional institution. 'We trust that under Minister Mchunu's leadership, Saps will use this opportunity to lead by example – rooting out embedded corruption and reclaiming public funds for real intelligence and public safety services,' de Villiers concluded. READ NEXT: 'We don't want him to be a pop star': Allegations by KZN police commissioner Mkhwanazi sparks uproar
IOL News
06-07-2025
- IOL News
Call for audit into SAPS Crime Intelligence following arrests of senior officials
Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo and six colleagues appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. Image: Screenshot from video. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, Jan de Villiers, has called for an independent and immediate audit into the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Division, following the arrest of seven senior officials on corruption-related charges. The arrests, which took place between June and July 2025, were of high-ranking Crime Intelligence officials responsible for financial oversight, internal controls, and personnel management. Those arrested include: Divisional Commissioner Lieutenant-Gen Dumisani Khumalo Chief Financial Officer Major-General Philani Lushaba Gauteng Crime Intelligence Head Major-General Josias Lekalakala Head of Analysis Centre Major-General Nosipho Madondo Technology Services Major-General Zwelithini Gabela Technical Systems Brigadier Dineo Mokwele Head of Vetting Brigadier Phindile Ncube The officials are facing charges of fraud and corruption linked to the appointment of an unqualified civilian in a senior post. 'These arrests raise grave concerns about systemic corruption within Crime Intelligence, particularly in relation to payroll fraud and the possible existence of ghost workers,' said De Villiers. 'It is reasonable to expect similar malpractice in payroll management... the possibility of irregular appointments, inflated headcounts, and unvetted recruits of 'ghost' employees is high.' 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 In a letter addressed to the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, the chairperson called for National Treasury and the Public Service Commission to coordinate a full audit of the Crime Intelligence division within 90 days. The audit must verify the headcount against the actual number of personnel deployed and scrutinise all payments from the Secret Services Account, a classified fund used for covert operations and informant compensation. De Villiers said the Secret Services Account 'has historically been flagged as highly vulnerable to abuse', that many of the arrested officials had direct responsibility for managing the fund. He said there is serious concern that public money may have been used to 'fund fabricated operatives or fake intelligence activities.' 'Ghost-worker fraud in government is not isolated,' he said. 'It takes sophisticated collusion to create and maintain these ghost-worker employees, who operate like organised criminal syndicates embedded in our government systems.' THE MERCURY
