Former SAPS officer Tiyani Hlungwani is going back to court. He will challenge a Gauteng High Court decision that overturned his fraud acquittal. This ruling now means his trial must continue.
Hlungwani used to be a brigadier in the crime intelligence division. He managed financial and administrative services under the unit’s secret services account, which is often called the slush fund. Magistrate Ignatius du Preez cleared him in November 2023. But in June 2025, the NPA won an appeal and reopened the case.
The judges, Acting Judge Siboniso Sambo and Judge Mandla Mbongwe, ruled that the matter must go back to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Hlungwani now plans to file a legal application to cancel that decision.
Hlungwani Claims He Was Not Told About Appeal Hearing
Hlungwani has raised concerns about how the appeal was handled. He said he was never informed that the NPA had scheduled a court date. He had earlier asked the prosecutor, Molatlhwa Mashuga, to send any updates by email or phone. Mashuga confirmed receiving that request in writing.
According to Hlungwani, the NPA did not follow this agreement. He was not present when the judgment was made in court. Because of this, he plans to apply to have the judgment rescinded, arguing that the process was unfair and that he was left out of the hearing.
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Background: The R50,000 Fraud Case That Sparked the Trial
The fraud case began after Hlungwani was arrested in June 2018. He was accused of taking part in defrauding the state of R50,000 the year before. He was one of four people charged in this case.
The others are Major-General Pat Mokhushane, his wife Lieutenant-Colonel Zandile Mokhushane, and Brigadier Manana Phetlhe. They were charged with fraud, money laundering, and breaking Precca laws. Their trial is still going on, and they will return to court on 22 July 2025.
Why the Court Dropped Charges Before – And Why They Are Back
When the case was first heard, Magistrate Du Preez said the charges against Hlungwani did not meet the criminal test. He said the facts in Count 6, which deals with breaking the Precca law, were more about workplace discipline than a crime.
He added that Hlungwani did not ask for the R50,000 to be paid into Phetlhe’s account. The payment request came from someone else. Based on the evidence, the court said there was not enough proof to find Hlungwani guilty on any of the charges.
However, the NPA disagreed. They believed the court made an error and pushed the case to a higher court. That led to the High Court judges ordering that the case must continue and that Hlungwani should again face trial.
What Happens Next in Court?
The other three accused will be in court on 22 July 2025. It is not clear if Hlungwani will join them. He is now trying to cancel the recent court decision.
If he fails, he will return to trial for the same fraud charges. The case is raising concerns about how state money is handled and how justice works in cases involving top officials.
Case Summary Table
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Alleged fraud amount | R50,000 |
| Alleged fraud committed | 2017 |
| Hlungwani arrested | June 2018 |
| Acquitted of charges | November 2023 |
| NPA appeal submitted | April 2024 |
| Acquittal overturned | June 2025 |
| Next court appearance (others) | 22 July 2025 |
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Hi, I’m Amandeep Singh, a content writer at Ramnath Intercollage. I share updates on jobs, internships, and scholarships across South Africa using official and trusted sources. My aim is to make every post easy to read and helpful for anyone looking to apply.
