SA Police Service divisional commissioner for crime intelligence Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, allegedly on charges relating to corruption.
Henry Mamothame, the National Prosecuting Authority’s investigative directorate spokesperson, confirmed the arrest.
“Yes, he has been arrested, but we cannot provide details until he and others appear in court,” Mamothame said.
Police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola also confirmed to Newzroom Afrika that Khumalo had been arrested.
“He called me and informed me he has been arrested, but I have no details of why he has been arrested,” Masemola said.
Other police sources, who cannot be named, said the arrest was linked to corruption.
Ian Cameron, chair of parliament’s police portfolio committee, said Khumalo’s arrest “sends more shock waves through the policing community … just a few weeks after another general [crime intelligence CFO Maj-Gen Philani Lushaba] was also arrested”.
“This development again raises serious concern about the integrity and leadership crisis in SAPS senior management. I repeat: a skills audit, integrity audit and urgent review of management is essential.”
Earlier Cameron said the “imminent arrest” of Khumalo related to “serious allegations, including irregular appointments and the looting of SAPS crime intelligence slush funds”.
The DA welcomed the arrest of Khumalo and three other top figures in the crime intelligence division.
The DA said others who had been arrested were Brig Daniel Ncube, Brig Nozipho Madondo and a Maj-Gen Gabela.
“This is a welcomed step in rescuing an organisation on the brink of collapse. This points to yet another serious breach of trust within a critical state institution tasked with performing our nation’s policing functions and mandate,” DA spokesperson on state security Dianne Kohler Barnard said.
She said the DA would undertake a watching brief on the case.
“In February this year, the DA wrote to the inspector-general of intelligence, Imtiaz Fazel, after it was uncovered that crime intelligence allegedly spent R22.8m on the purchase of a highly questionable commercial property in Berea, Durban, and R22.7m on a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North.”
She said these purchases were allegedly authorised by crime intelligence CFO Maj-Gen Philani Lushaba and Khumalo.
“These properties were purchased and seem to be just a tip of the iceberg which, being revealed, threatens to sink crime intelligence once and for all,” she said.
Barnard said that just more than 10 days ago, Lushaba handed himself over to police after it emerged that a sex worker had allegedly stolen his state-issued firearm and laptop. He subsequently lied about the matter, leading to his arrest.
“We expect more arrests to follow of very high-ranking and senior police officials. After years of Zuma-era state capture and corruption crime intelligence essentially became a cash cow for Zuma-aligned cronies.
“We call on minister Senzo Mchunu to ensure that the full might of the law prevails and that these arrests lead to the imprisonment of those found guilty of wrongdoing.
“The DA hoped that at last crime intelligence was rising out of the Richard Mdluli era, but sadly for SA, that is not the case,” she said. With Ernest Mabuza
Update: June 26 2025
This story has been updated with reaction from the DA.
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