Picture: Former Intelligence Boss, Richard Mdluli
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
14 December 2024- The Pretoria High Court postponed the corruption case against Richard Mdluli and his co-accused to 14 April 2025, for trial. This follows the dismissal of his appeal to Legal Aid South, after they rejected his application for legal aid.
The Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said Mdluli confirmed in court that he will source the services of a private attorney to represent him in the trial.
“Mdluli, together with the former South African Police Service (SAPS) Supply Chain Manager, Heine Barnard and Chief Financial Officer, Solomon Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police’s secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the SAPS in the Crime Intelligence Services, between 2008 and 2012,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Police, Ian Cameron said: “We have noted that the long-awaited trial date for former Gauteng crime intelligence boss, Richard Mdluli, is set for April 2025.
“Mdluli and his cohorts have been accused of corruption, fraud, and theft during his tenure as the head of Crime Intelligence in Gauteng in that he allegedly dipped into the entity’s secret service slush fund.”
Cameron said after his successful efforts to discredit the now-defunct Scorpions in the 2000’s, Mdluli has tarnished the reputation of SAPS’s critical Crime Intelligence division ever since. He said not long after, Mdluli was also convicted of kidnapping and assault.
“The senior ranks of SAPS crime intelligence have been riddled with allegations of impropriety for years. The latest revelations regarding Major-General Tiyo’s dismissal from, and as-yet unexplained sudden reinstatement to, his position as the Western Cape crime intelligence head has only deepened the serious failures at SAPS crime intelligence.
“SAPS still has a great deal of work to do in cleaning up the mess that Mdluli left behind, not to mention the internal struggles which continue to plague the division,” said Cameron.
He said bringing breakers like Mdluli to justice gives heart to those men and women in blue, who remain committed to building a peaceful and prosperous South Africa. Cameron said those in SAPS who continue to ensure discipline, accountability, and fairness are the cornerstone of our law enforcement services.
“The DA will continue to monitor this case carefully and continue in its work in Parliament to ensure that this critical component of our law enforcement complement is brought back on its feet and capable of doing the work to keep South Africans safe and secure,” said Cameron.
The Guardian 