"From London to Johannesburg: The Corruption Case That Hit a Legal Wall"
15/08/2025
South Africa's High Court has blocked an extradition request for Richard Payne, a UK-based consultant accused of serious corruption and fraud in a long-running case involving the Gauteng Department of Health.
🧑⚖️ Why the Extradition Was Blocked
The court ruled that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) acted unconstitutionally by submitting the extradition request without the involvement of the Minister of Justice, who is the only official legally authorised to make such requests under South African law.
📌 Background on the Case
- Richard Payne is accused of 258 counts including racketeering, fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
- The charges stem from alleged irregular tenders and payments between 2006 and 2010, totaling R347 million.
- Payne’s company, 3P Consulting, and others allegedly secured lucrative contracts through corrupt dealings with officials, including former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa.
🧑⚖️ Legal Developments
- The extradition request was made in September 2022 by the NPA.
- In May 2024, South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in a separate case (Schultz v Minister of Justice) that only the Minister of Justice can issue extradition requests.
- Acting Judge Lindsey Kilmartin applied this precedent, declaring the Payne request invalid and unconstitutional.
UK Court's Response
- A UK court had previously approved Payne’s extradition, but he successfully appealed.
- The UK court found abuse of process in the extradition proceedings, though it did not find evidence of manipulation by South African authorities.
🔍 What’s Next?
- The criminal trial in South Africa has been postponed to April 2026.
- Payne remains in the UK, and his extradition is now unlikely unless the appropriate authority makes a new, valid request.
References
High Court rules against NPA's extradition request for Richard Payne = https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2025-08-12-high-court-rules-against-npas-extradition-request-for-richard-payne/
High Court finds Payne extradition request was issued by unauthorised ...https://www.conviction.co.za/court-slams-state-over-unconstitutional-extradition-request-payne/
Richard Payne, wanted in R347m Gauteng fraud case, fends off ...https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-05-uk-citizen-richard-payne-wanted-in-r347m-gauteng-fraud-case-fends-off-extradition-to-sa/
The Team
Meet the team of industry experts behind Comsure
Find out moreLatest News
Keep up to date with the very latest news from Comsure
Find out moreGallery
View our latest imagery from our news and work
Find out moreContact
Think we can help you and your business? Chat to us today
Get In TouchNews Disclaimer
As well as owning and publishing Comsure's copyrighted works, Comsure wishes to use the copyright-protected works of others. To do so, Comsure is applying for exemptions in the UK copyright law. There are certain very specific situations where Comsure is permitted to do so without seeking permission from the owner. These exemptions are in the copyright sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)[www.gov.UK/government/publications/copyright-acts-and-related-laws]. Many situations allow for Comsure to apply for exemptions. These include 1] Non-commercial research and private study, 2] Criticism, review and reporting of current events, 3] the copying of works in any medium as long as the use is to illustrate a point. 4] no posting is for commercial purposes [payment]. (for a full list of exemptions, please read here www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright]. Concerning the exceptions, Comsure will acknowledge the work of the source author by providing a link to the source material. Comsure claims no ownership of non-Comsure content. The non-Comsure articles posted on the Comsure website are deemed important, relevant, and newsworthy to a Comsure audience (e.g. regulated financial services and professional firms [DNFSBs]). Comsure does not wish to take any credit for the publication, and the publication can be read in full in its original form if you click the articles link that always accompanies the news item. Also, Comsure does not seek any payment for highlighting these important articles. If you want any article removed, Comsure will automatically do so on a reasonable request if you email info@comsuregroup.com.
As well as owning and publishing Comsure's copyrighted works, Comsure wishes to use the copyright-protected works of others. To do so, Comsure is applying for exemptions in the UK copyright law. There are certain very specific situations where Comsure is permitted to do so without seeking permission from the owner. These exemptions are in the copyright sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)[www.gov.UK/government/publications/copyright-acts-and-related-laws]. Many situations allow for Comsure to apply for exemptions. These include 1] Non-commercial research and private study, 2] Criticism, review and reporting of current events, 3] the copying of works in any medium as long as the use is to illustrate a point. 4] no posting is for commercial purposes [payment]. (for a full list of exemptions, please read here www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright]. Concerning the exceptions, Comsure will acknowledge the work of the source author by providing a link to the source material. Comsure claims no ownership of non-Comsure content. The non-Comsure articles posted on the Comsure website are deemed important, relevant, and newsworthy to a Comsure audience (e.g. regulated financial services and professional firms [DNFSBs]). Comsure does not wish to take any credit for the publication, and the publication can be read in full in its original form if you click the articles link that always accompanies the news item. Also, Comsure does not seek any payment for highlighting these important articles. If you want any article removed, Comsure will automatically do so on a reasonable request if you email info@comsuregroup.com.