PRETORIA – The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has confirmed that arrest warrants were issued exclusively for South African Police Service (SAPS) officials General Dumisani Khumalo and Major General Nozipho Madondo. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago dismissed speculation regarding the implication of additional SAPS members and clarified the circumstances surrounding the temporary suspension of the warrants to accommodate national security duties.
According to Kganyago, the warrants were specifically directed at Khumalo and Madondo in connection with an ongoing IDAC investigation. The two senior officials were initially contacted to present themselves at the Brooklyn police station on June 18. However, Kganyago noted that the specific charges remain confidential until the generals are formally processed and the charges are officially read to them.
The execution of the arrest warrants was subsequently paused. Kganyago explained that IDAC decided to suspend the process because the two generals are currently assigned critical national duties as part of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster. These duties involve essential security preparations leading up to June 30. While the NPA is part of the broader cluster, Kganyago clarified that the decision to halt the arrests was made by IDAC after they became aware of the generals’ scheduling conflicts and communicated the change directly to them.
“The interest of the country was put forward before this matter because this matter will still continue after that interest of the country has been done,” Kganyago stated, confirming that the warrants remain active but will be enforced once the national duties are concluded. He emphasized that the postponement is based strictly on their government responsibilities and is not dictated by deadlines set by external civil society organizations.
Addressing widespread speculation, Kganyago firmly denied rumors that the warrants were issued in retaliation for SAPS allegedly investigating the IDAC head. He dismissed claims of a “public spat” or animosity between the two law enforcement entities. This comes despite public statements from General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who was present outside the police station expressing confusion and likening the tension between the entities to a “war” that could lead to bloodshed.
“We are not aware of any kind of animosity between the two parties,” Kganyago asserted, adding that the investigations are standard legal procedures. He referenced previous public statements made by the IDAC head to a parliamentary committee, noting that certain matters were intentionally delayed until the committee finalized its work, further debunking claims of retaliatory action.
When questioned whether IDAC acted prematurely by summoning the generals before realizing their JCPS cluster commitments, Kganyago maintained that the decision to pause the arrests was communicated to the officials before they arrived at the Brooklyn police station, though they had already departed. He concluded that the investigations will proceed normally and the generals will be required to account for the charges once their June 30 national duties are fulfilled.
