Khumalo details reform challenges amid resistance at Crime Intelligence

The head of Crime Intelligence Dumisani Khumalo on Thursday said he found the division still characterised by misuse of Crime Intelligence methodologies and resources when he was appointed to the position in 2022.

Khumalo said there were complaints from operational environment of SAPS that were not getting the expected services.

“These are also related to findings of lots commissions and inquiries that were established focusing on some of the issues (including) crime intelligence problems,” he said.

Khumalo made the statement when he was giving evidence before the parliamentary inquiry that is probing allegations that were made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at a press conference in July 2025.

The inquiry investigates the alleged unlawful disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), the moratorium in the filling of vacancies in the Crime Intelligence Unit, and the alleged corrupt relationship between senior leadership of SAPS and members of the public, as well as political interference in the work of the police service.

In his evidence, Khumalo also said he found outdated and non-existing legal policies and legal environment.

“The environment was serving on a free mode. It was like Crime Intelligence was serving its own purpose.”

He also said there was misuse of state vehicles by senior management of the division including senior management of SAPS.

“Those vehicles were allocated to those seniors unlawfully so because it amounted to fraud and corruption,” said the crime intelligence boss.

According to Khumalo, there was also a problem of physical, human and financial control measures.

“It was a free for all, “ he said, adding that there was a problem of appointment of relatives and friends of the management.

Khumalo, who is also project leader for PKTT, told the inquiry that he had taken decisions that made him not famous and not supported at senior management level, resulting in misinformation about the reforms he introduced.

 “There were serious legal reforms that one had to implement starting with compliance with Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication Related Information Act," he said.

“There were lots of interception activities outside the legal framework. One had to prioritise that to acquire exemption certificate that allows to purchase, keep and utilise the listed equipment.

“The other that had to be prioritised was exemption by the National Treasury to depart from procurement processes for covert operations supported through the Secret Service Account.”

Khumalo said when he took over the division he had to also identify and recruit capable officers through transfers and promotions to implement the legal framework that has been passed.

There was also the removal of vehicles from senior management, redistributed for real purposes at operational level.

“Soon after that directive was issued under my signature, vehicles had to be collected, inspected and redistribution started.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za