Phahlane Fraud Trial Postponed to Next Monday
Former Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and five co-accused face R54 million fraud and corruption charges over police software procurements.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The trial of former Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and five co-accused over R54 million in fraud and corruption charges has been postponed to next Monday. All parties agreed to the postponement, which was scheduled to start on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
Why it matters
The charges concern two allegedly irregular software procurements, one intended for use during the #feesmustfall protests in October 2015. The second was allegedly used to wipe cell phone records and messages while Phahlane was under Hawks investigation over the blue lights police tender, and Phahlane has claimed innocence.
The trial of Phahlane and five co-accused over R54 million in fraud and corruption charges has been postponed to next Monday. The postponement was agreed by all parties to allow the Local Government Elections to conclude and to let accused residing outside Gauteng vote.
The players
Khomotso Phahlane
Former Acting National Police Commissioner facing fraud and corruption charges, who has claimed innocence.
The details
The charges relate to two software procurements dating to 2015, one for the #feesmustfall protests and one allegedly used to wipe cell phone records while Phahlane was under Hawks investigation over the blue lights police tender. The trial was originally scheduled to start on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
Timeline
October 2015: First software procurement intended for #feesmustfall protests.
2015: Police contracts involving software procurement dated back to this period.
Tuesday, 3 November 2026: Trial originally scheduled to start, then postponed.
Next Monday: Rescheduled date for the trial.
Legal Context
The case follows the Hawks investigation into the blue lights police tender, and the alleged wiping of cell phone records during that probe now forms part of the fraud and corruption charges. Its progress will show how South African courts handle senior police officials accused of interfering with investigations into their own conduct.
The postponement means the trial will not begin until next Monday, so the outcome for the accused remains open. The case concerns the use of public police procurement funds, which bears on public trust in how police budgets are spent.
The takeaway
Allegations involving public police funds are tested in court, and the postponed trial will determine whether the R54 million charges hold. Readers following public spending should watch the Gauteng High Court schedule for the next hearing.
What happens next
The trial is rescheduled to start next Monday.
Further reading
For more on similar cases, see Financial Crime coverage across South Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..
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