Judge Questions Fannie Nkosi Over R350 000 Cash Found At Home: ‘I Don’t Even Get That Salary’

The Pretoria High Court has reserved judgment in the bail appeal of Sergeant Fannie Nkosi after sharp questions were raised about large sums of cash and ammunition allegedly found at his home.

Nkosi appeared in court on Tuesday in an attempt to overturn an earlier ruling by the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court denying him bail.

Judge Mokhine Mosopa said he would deliver judgment at a later date, which will be communicated by the registrar.

“I’m grateful for the submissions and the heads of arguments that you have presented. I’m now full. You have fed me with a lot of information. I’m going to reserve this judgment,” Mosopa said.

Judge Questions Cash Found At Fannie Nkosi’s House

Nkosi was arrested on 2 April by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry task team after police raided his Pretoria home following testimony linked to the investigation.

He faces charges including defeating the ends of justice, possession of illegal ammunition and explosives, and theft.

During proceedings, the judge questioned why Nkosi allegedly kept R350 000 and an additional R52 000 at his house despite earning a police salary.

“According to the state, the respondent’s case is that there was no reasonable explanation why he was in that. So, for you to say that he may commit a Schedule 1 offence is unfounded, is based on what, Mr Potgieter? Why do you keep R350 000 in your house? You are not a businessman; you are a police officer who is on a salary of R16 000,” Mosopa said.

“I can’t even keep that amount of money because I am not getting that salary. You go on and keep another R52 000. What does that mean?”

Nkosi’s lawyer, Hendrik Potgieter, argued that the cash alone did not prove his client had a tendency to commit serious crimes.

“My Lord, that alone cannot show that there is a propensity to commit a Schedule 1 offence,” Potgieter said.

Court Hears Details About Ammunition And Firearms

The court also heard arguments about ammunition allegedly discovered during the police raid.

Judge Mosopa questioned why Nkosi allegedly kept hundreds of rounds of ammunition linked to an R5 rifle at his house.

“Why does he have to keep such a large amount of ammunition relating to the R5 rifle in his house? It doesn’t end there; only five [out of 62] of the ammunition found there were found to be police-issued. It means the rest were not police-issued,” the judge said.

Potgieter defended his client, saying Nkosi was a licensed firearm owner and that the ammunition quantity was not excessive.

“With the number of firearms that the appellant has registered to his name, 400 rounds of ammunition is not a large quantity. He’s a licensed gun owner,” Potgieter argued.

State Says It Has Strong Case Against Fannie Nkosi

Advocate Trott Mphahlele argued that the state had a strong case and opposed the appeal.

Mphahlele presented images in court allegedly showing a stun grenade found inside Nkosi’s house, despite Nkosi previously denying this.

“The appellant, in his submissions, insisted that no stun grenade was found on the premises. The stun grenade was found inside the house. This particular stun grenade was found at the bar in the house,” Mphahlele said.

The state also alleged that police dockets linked to cash-in-transit robberies and violent crime investigations were discovered in a Wendy house on Nkosi’s property.

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According to the state, some dockets had allegedly been copied and evidence retained instead of suspects being charged.

“The police dockets were found and these particular dockets were actually kept in the Wendy house. And as the investigating officer correctly stated, they were gathering dust in the Wendy house,” Mphahlele told the court.

Additional Charges Added Against Fannie Nkosi

Earlier this month, investigators attached to the Madlanga Commission task team brought further charges against Nkosi while he remained in custody.

The state alleges that in November 2022, Nkosi removed a case docket and confiscated dagga linked to an arrest involving firearms and explosives in Thohoyandou.

Prosecutors claim one of the exhibit bags containing the dagga was later found to have been tampered with.

The state is now seeking to combine the cases. Nkosi is expected back in court on 22 July.

He has denied all allegations against him and maintains that the state’s case is weak.