Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo cleared to return to work after High Court ruling
The Pretoria High Court has overturned a bail condition blocking Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo from his workplace, ruling the magistrate acted without evidence or justification in imposing the sweeping restriction.
Image: Independent Media
The Pretoria High Court on Friday set aside a bail condition that had prohibited Dumisani Khumalo and two co-accused from entering any Crime Intelligence premises while their criminal trial is pending.
Khumalo, along with Nozipho Precious Madondo and Maperemisa Josias Lekalakala, were arrested in June on fraud and corruption charges linked to the alleged irregular appointment of civilian Dineo Mokwele to a senior post in Crime Intelligence.
IOL previously reported that the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court granted a postponement as prosecutors finalised outstanding disclosures.
Khumalo and two co-accused, however, appeared in a separate hearing seeking to amend their bail conditions to allow them to return to work while awaiting trial.
The State alleges Mokwele’s appointment bypassed standard security and recruitment procedures, implicating top management.
Justice Raborife said the bail condition imposed by Acting Chief Magistrate Mahlangu was arbitrary, incorrect, and imposed without supporting facts.
“The court a quo’s decision to does not reflect a proper exercise of judicial discretion,” the judgment reads.
The High Court upheld the appeal and removed the restriction, allowing the accused to return to their duties.
The appellants argued that the condition was unnecessary, vague, and prejudicial.
There was no evidence suggesting they would interfere with witnesses or tamper with evidence.
They also noted that the South African Police Service had not suspended them and had not requested similar restrictions.
The State had opposed the appeal, arguing that courts have the authority under the Criminal Procedure Act to impose conditions they consider in the interests of justice.
However, Justice Raborife emphasised that the magistrate’s judgment provided no reasons for the restriction, forcing the parties to guess its rationale.
“Judges and Magistrates are expected to give reasons to ensure accountability, transparency, fair appeals, guidance in future cases, and the public’s access to justice,” the judgment noted.
The accused face multiple charges, including fraud and contraventions of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Their trial remains ongoing in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court, and the case has been postponed to 13 February 2026.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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