Courts & Legal
Senior SANDF director appears in court over alleged R1.5m bribe offer
A senior figure from South Africa’s military has found himself on the other side of the law.
Johannes Prince Mkabela, 53, a director of special acquisition within the South African National Defence Force, made a brief appearance on Monday, facing a corruption charge linked to an alleged R1.5 million bribe attempt.
For many South Africans, the news lands heavily. The SANDF is meant to represent discipline, order, and national security. When a high-ranking official is accused of trying to derail a criminal investigation, it raises serious questions at a time when public trust in institutions remains a national concern.
The alleged R1.5 million offer
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the alleged incident took place on 13 February 2026. Mkabela is accused of meeting with a police investigator who was probing a separate case of intimidation against him.
During that meeting, he allegedly paid the investigating officer R50 000 as a deposit. The balance, prosecutors say, was promised by September 2026. In exchange, the officer was allegedly asked to destroy the case docket against him.
Instead of closing a file, the meeting triggered an arrest. Members of the Madlanga Commission Task Team moved in shortly after the alleged exchange.
Mkabela was arrested on Friday and has now been formally charged. The matter has been postponed to 20 February 2026 for bail investigations.
A wider anti-corruption drive
The timing of the case is notable. South Africa has been under pressure to clamp down on corruption across public institutions. From municipalities to state-owned entities, law enforcement agencies have faced growing calls to act decisively.
While Mkabela’s case unfolds, another corruption investigation has also made headlines.
R75 million water tanker tender arrests
The Special Investigating Unit has welcomed the arrest of nine individuals linked to an illegal R75 million water tanker tender at the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
The SIU investigation uncovered what it described as serious maladministration and corruption. The procurement contract for trucks, water tankers, and jet vacuum tankers was awarded to Kwane Capital without budget approval.
According to the SIU, the municipality paid R75 million to the company in contravention of Regulation 32 of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation units, working with other law enforcement agencies, arrested the group last week. Those arrested are aged between 43 and 73 and include two corporate entities.
What happens next
For Mkabela, the immediate focus is the upcoming bail proceedings. For the country, the broader question remains whether these arrests signal a stronger, more consistent approach to tackling corruption.
South Africans have heard promises of accountability before. What many want now is follow-through.
As the case returns to court later this month, attention will remain fixed on whether the justice system can send a clear message that no rank, title, or uniform places anyone above the law.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: News24
