Gauteng Hawks boss Ebrahim Kadwa’s cellphone matter struck off the roll

An urgent application by Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa, who sought the return of electronic devices seized during his arrest has been struck off the roll. Pictures: Hein Kaiser An urgent application by Gauteng Hawks head, Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa, who sought the return of electronic devices seized during his arrest, has been struck off the roll. The High Court in Johannesburg handed down the ruling on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

Kadwa launched the legal challenge against the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, demanding the release of his cellphone, which he claims contains “state secrets”. The device was confiscated in May 2026 when Kadwa was arrested in connection with alleged breaches of the Precious Metals Act and charges of defeating and obstructing the course of justice. The charges stem from a 2021 case in which Kadwa is accused alongside police crime intelligence operational support head, Major-General Feroz Khan, and businessman Tariq Downes.

In court papers, Kadwa dismissed the allegations as “unfounded”, insisting that the case against him is politically motivated. Kadwa argued that the police had a warrant to arrest him, but not to seize his phone. Last week, Khan suffered a similar fate after his urgent bid to have his seized electronic devices returned was removed from the roll of the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

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This was after the South African Police Service (SAPS) handed the items over to the Madlanga Commission. Acting Judge Michelle van Nieuwenhuizen removed the matter from the court roll on Friday after the State received correspondence stating that the devices were no longer in the police’s possession, effectively rendering the case “moot.” Khan’s legal representative, Zubair Khan, said the ruling meant he, a high-ranking police official, would need to start afresh in tracking down the devices and challenge the procedures used to seize them.

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