PRETORIA – A senior South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence official has allegedly disappeared just as authorities were closing in to question him about alleged financial misconduct involving properties worth over R45 million.
Major-General Philani Lushaba, the Chief Financial Officer of SAPS Crime Intelligence, allegedly failed to report for duty on Friday (6 June) morning, according to sources. His sudden disappearance coincides with attempts by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate to question him regarding suspicious property transactions, said the Democratic Alliance (DA) in a statement.
At the centre of the scandal are two high-value property purchases: a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North acquired for R22.7 million and a commercial property in Berea, Durban purchased for R22.8 million. Both properties were reportedly funded by Crime Intelligence.
According to an investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI), these purchases were allegedly authorised by Lushaba and Crime Intelligence head, Major-General Dumisani Khumalo, without obtaining the required approvals from the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The investigation, which has recently concluded, was initiated after the DA raised concerns about the suspicious transactions. The findings point to potential violations of procurement procedures and possible misuse of public funds.
The DA has expressed deep concern over this development, particularly given Lushaba’s senior position within one of the country’s most critical law enforcement divisions.
“The SAPS Crime Intelligence division has a long, troubling record of corruption, dating back to the era of disgraced former head Richard Mdluli. For too long, this vital unit has been plagued by looting, political interference, and lawlessness,” said Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Spokesperson on State Security.
The opposition party has submitted urgent parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police regarding the contents of the IGI’s report and whether additional misconduct has been uncovered.
‘We will also write to the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to demand that the SAPS leadership, including Crime Intelligence’s top officials, be summoned to account before Parliament,’ Kohler Barnard added.
The DA emphasised that without decisive action to remove corrupt elements from senior management, there can be no hope of restoring credibility to SAPS’ intelligence function or protecting South Africans from organised crime.
This incident marks another chapter in what critics describe as a troubling pattern of misconduct within the Crime Intelligence unit. The division has faced numerous scandals over the years, raising questions about oversight and accountability within one of the nation’s most powerful security agencies.
‘The IGI’s report must now serve as a turning point,’ said Kohler Barnard. ‘Law enforcement agencies must treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. The DA will continue to pursue accountability and ensure that those responsible are brought to book.’
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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