Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and former deputy commissioner Bonang Mgwenya will be back in court in February to hear when they will stand trial in their corruption case.  

Phahlane and his co-accused appeared briefly in the Palm Ridge Specialised Court on Wednesday.  

He is charged alongside Mgwenya, businessman Vimpie Manthata and his company Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, former Gauteng police commissioner Deliwe de Lange, former Gauteng deputy police commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, James Ramanjalum, Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, Thomas Marima, Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa, Judy Rose and Samantha Andrews. 

The accused are facing charges of fraud, corruption and forgery in relation to the irregular procurement of emergency lights valued at R60-million. The tender was awarded to Manthata's company, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, in 2016 to fit emergency lights to police vehicles.

It is alleged that during the procurement process, the SAPS ignored the competitive bidding process and favoured Manthata's company in exchange for benefits. The contract was valued at R191-million, but the company received R65-million. Another R22-million was stopped after investigations.

In May, the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court dismissed a bid by some of the accused to have the case struck off the roll.

In August, the Asset Forfeiture Unit seized assets, including 19 immovable properties and around 115 vehicles, including three trucks, from the group. 

Phahlane is also out on bail in another case where he is being charged alongside the acting head of the Crime Intelligence secret fund, Major-General Obed Nemutanzhela; Crime Intelligence information and technology head Lieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Mahwayi; the head of Crime Intelligence in the Free State, Major-General Agnes Makhele; Durban businessman Inbanathan Kistiah; and a business associate of his, Avendra Naidoo.

The group appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in September on facing charges of fraud, corruption, theft, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act relating to two police tenders issued in 2016 worth about R54-million.