Former State Security Agency (SSA) executive Thulani Dlomo, a long-time Jacob Zuma ally, has appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court with former SSA project manager Patrick Mshothola. They face charges linked to roughly R12 million that left the agency’s coffers through a covert project and allegedly never reached its intended destination.

Investigators say the case centres on a security contract that masked large cash withdrawals from the SSA’s secret budget. Dlomo and Mshothola are out on bail while the state prepares a detailed indictment and considers moving the matter to the High Court, where the pair would face a full corruption and fraud trial.