Pretoria – The bail hearing for SAPS Crime Intelligence head Major-General Dumisani Khumalo and two co-accused took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when advocate Malesela Teffo unexpectedly attempted to join the case as amicus curiae (friend of the court).
Teffo claimed the accused were “very dangerous people” and alleged they had monitored his communications while he was in jail, stating he had been harassed and investigated by them.
“Firstly, I am also the accused in another case where your brother (another magistrate) is appearing. The basis for me to bring this application is the fact that the applicants are very dangerous people. I was in jail. They are part of sending me in jail. “When I was in jail, they were monitoring my communications in jail,” he said.
Khumalo’s counsel, advocate Zandile Mshololo, objected, arguing that Teffo had not followed proper court procedures and that allowing him to speak would prejudice the accused.
[WATCH] “The applicants are very dangerous people. I was in jail. They are part of sending me to jail.” Malesela Teffo is requesting to be a friend of the court on Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo’s case at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/iXAdlm0zhS
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 15, 2025
The prosecution agreed, instructing Teffo to formally file his application and serve both parties. Teffo insisted he was appearing as a private citizen, not as legal counsel.
The court also postponed the main bail matter to November 6.
The delay allows the State to file an application to review Chief Magistrate Vusimuzi Mahlangu’s decision to recuse himself from the case, announced on Tuesday.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi previously expressed concern over Mahlangu’s handling of the matter at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
[WATCH] Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo’s case has been postponed to 6 November at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. The state intends to appeal the recusal of the previous magistrate, Vusi Mahlangu. pic.twitter.com/LFioXcTfkf
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 15, 2025
According to SABC News, Henry Mamothame, spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), said, “To our surprise, the presiding officer indicated that he is recusing himself in this matter.
We did not view him as a biased presiding officer.
However, he cited his reasons, partly linked to allegations made against the judiciary in the Madlanga Commission.
“We have decided to review his application and are filing a notice to the High Court to assess the validity of his recusal.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
