Court dismisses application to compel State to disclose further particulars in Blue Lights R191 million matter
1 August 2023
The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has dismissed the bid by a company, Instrumentation For Traffic Law Enforcement, to compel the state to disclose further and better particulars in the Blue Lights R191 million matter.
The application, brought under section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Act, argued on 26 June 2023 by accused 14 a (company- Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement) owned by businessman Vimpie Manthatha. Handing down judgment, Magistrate Emmanuel Mangampa stated that this application is "clearly a deliberate ploy to frustrate the administration of justice, if not a blatant abuse of the court processes". He further observed as follows: "Having looked at the charge sheet, it is the court's view that the charges, as amplified by the general preamble and the specific preambles to the respective charges, are detailed enough.’’
The matter relates to a contract to supply emergency warning equipment for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 2016. The contract was worth R191m. R65m was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law enforcement (Pty) Ltd, but a further payment of R22m was stopped, as a result of the investigation into the matter by the NPA's Investigating Directorate (ID) and IPID.
The accused are former Acting National Police Commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane and former Deputy National Commissioner, Bonang Mgwenya , former Gauteng Police Commissioner, Deliwe de Lange; Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo; Lieutenant General Ramahlapi; Johannes Mokwena (retired Divisional Commissioner); Brigadier James Ramanjalum; Thomas Dumas Marima (Colonel) and Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa (Seargent). The civilians are Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews, Vimpie Manthatha, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law enforcement (Pty) Ltd.
The group faces charges of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering. The matter will return to court on 05 October 2023.
Issued by Sindisiwe Seboka, Investigating Directorate Spokesperson, 1 August 2023
