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Former Crime Intelligence head Mphego gets R5,000 bail

Published

Mulangi Mphego appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after his arrest at his Centurion home. He is accused of unlawfully possessing police-issued ammunition, and the state did not oppose bail.

Police searched Mphego's Centurion home on 6 July, and he was arrested more than three months later. Reports said police found more than 100 rounds of ammunition marked with a "P". The case was postponed to 3 November.

Prosecutor Mxolisi Thusi told the court that the investigations are complete. His lawyer, Piet du Plessis, said Mphego has no previous convictions and no pending arrest warrants. Magistrate Tshifhiwa Ntoko told Mphego: "You must attend court every time the matter comes to court and you must not contact state witnesses directly or indirectly"

Reports linked the matter to the investigation into the 2021 death of Sindile Mfazi, a former deputy national police commissioner for crime detection. Police now say Mfazi was murdered, after first believing he died of suspected Covid-19 complications. Mphego headed Crime Intelligence from 2006 to 2008 and later advised the late David Mabuza.

Key facts

Who
Mulangi Mphego (Former crime intelligence head and former special adviser to the late former…); Tshifhiwa Ntoko (Magistrate who released Mphego on bail); Athlenda Mathe (Police spokesperson (Brig)); Piet du Plessis (Lawyer for Mphego)
What
Mphego, a former crime intelligence head and former special adviser to the late David Mabuza, was arrested at his Centurion home and appeared in court on Tuesday facing a schedule one offence. The state did not oppose bail, and the matter was postponed to November 3.
When
20 October 2026
Where
Centurion, Tshwane, Johannesburg
Status
Reported

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