Panday seeks end to World Cup corruption case over alleged state delays

Former Pietermaritzburg resident and Durban businessman Thoshan Panday is expected to learn today whether the High Court in Durban will grant an application to strike his long-running 2010 Soccer World Cup corruption case off the roll.

The application was brought in terms of Section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act, which allows a court to investigate unreasonable delays in criminal proceedings, relating to R47 million in corruption and racketeering allegations linked to alleged fraud.

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Naveen Mahdeo, Ashwin Narainpershad, former KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner General Mmamonnye Ngobeni and Panday were arrested in October 2020.

Arvenda Panday, Privisha Panday, Seevish Maharaj Ishwarkumar, Kajal Ishwarkumar and Tasleem Rahiman were joined to the case in May 2021.

The heads of argument, filed on behalf of the three Pandays, the two Ishwarkumars and Rahiman, argue that the state has failed to comply with repeated requests and court orders for further information and documentation since April 2021.

The defence alleges that several postponements followed as the state provided incomplete responses to requests for information.

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In June 2024, the High Court ordered the state to provide the information requested by the applicants within 21 days.

The defence said the state initially indicated that it intended to comply with the order but later sought leave to appeal against it, resulting in further delays.

The state was granted leave to appeal against the order in July 2025, but the defence contends it failed to comply with procedural requirements relating to the appeal: it delivered its notice of appeal four days late and then failed to apply for a hearing date or file the appeal record within the prescribed 60-day period, meaning the appeal lapsed by operation of law.

The defence also points to a restraint of property order worth R165 million, arguing that the accused have suffered significant financial and reputational consequences while the criminal proceedings remain unresolved.

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It contends that there would be no significant prejudice to the public interest if the case were struck off, pointing out that the alleged offences date back to 2010 and that some charges against Mahdeo, Narainpershad and Panday had previously been withdrawn.

In its concluding submissions, the defence argues that the case has been unreasonably delayed and that the accused have repeatedly attempted to obtain information needed to prepare for trial.

The ruling is expected to be handed down on Friday.