Former police crime intelligence head of financial and administrative services Tiyani Hlungwani is challenging his dismissal from the unit over the theft of R50,000.

Hlungwani, a former financial and administrative services section brigadier in the SA Police Service (SAPS) crime intelligence division, secret services account, was acquitted of fraud charges by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in 2024, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) appealed the decision.

A full bench of the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Acting Judge Siboniso Sambo and Judge Mandla Mbongwe, set aside his acquittal and discharge. However, Hlungwani is challenging the judgment.

Hlungwani claims that the judgment was granted in his absence. In court papers, he demands that the High Court ruling be rescinded.

He added that the charges were reinstated following his acquittal and discharge in the criminal trial.

“I was denied the right to participate in the hearing of the appeal, despite that he was self-representing, and as a result, the judgment was erroneously granted.”

Hlungwani insisted that the NPA failed to give proper notice of its appeal of the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

The former cop was found not guilty and discharged in respect of all three charges to which he had pleaded not guilty.

However, Acting Judge Sambo and Judge Mbongwe referred the matter back to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for the trial to continue.

Hlungwani, who represented himself in the trial, expressed his unhappiness with the judgment, saying he was never informed that the NPA enrolled the matter for the hearing of its appeal last month.

He was accused number three in the matter alongside Major-General Pat Mokhushane and his wife, Lieutenant-Colonel Zandile Mokhushane, as well as Brigadier Manana Leonora Phetlhe, who are all still on trial.

They were also charged with money laundering and contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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