6 October 2026 · Reporting checked against the current sources listed below.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has provisionally withdrawn the R191 million “blue lights” corruption case against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused.
IDAC says acting Investigating Director advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara wants to reconsider aspects of the matter before it is re-enrolled. The directorate stressed that a review panel had already found the case was properly authorised and fell within IDAC’s mandate.
The case concerns a 2016 South African Police Service contract for emergency warning equipment. According to IDAC, the contract was worth just over R191 million, about R65 million was paid to the service provider, and investigators prevented a further R22 million payment.
Phahlane and the other accused had faced charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering. Those allegations have not been proved at trial. A provisional withdrawal means the present prosecution is off the roll while prosecutors review it; it is not a finding of innocence or guilt.
The development is consequential because the matter has spent years in the criminal-justice system and involves several former senior police officials. IDAC has not announced when it expects to re-enrol the case.
