The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday expressed frustration with delays in the case against former police crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli.

"This is frustrating for the victims and the public," said Gauteng NPA spokesperson Phindi Louw.

She was speaking outside the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, following Mdluli's brief appearance.

The case was postponed to allow the defence to be provided with documents.

Louw said the NPA was mandated to deal with every case expeditiously, but this delay was "out of their control".

Mdluli faces a string of charges related to the fatal shooting of Oupa Ramogibe, his former lover's husband.

These include kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, intimidation, and defeating the ends of justice.

According to the charge sheet, Mdluli allegedly went to extreme lengths between 1997 and 1999 to find his former lover Tshidi Buthelezi and her husband.

Mdluli and his co-accused, Mthembeni Mtunzi-Omhle Mthunzi, 54, allegedly forced Buthelezi's friend Alice Manana out of her Boksburg, East Rand, home and took her to the Vosloorus police station. There she was allegedly assaulted to have her reveal Buthelezi's whereabouts.

Mthunzi and Mdluli worked together at the police station between 1997 and 1999. Mdluli was the station's branch commander.

Mdluli had had a long-term relationship with Buthelezi since their school days and he claimed she was his wife. He bought a property in Dawn Park and lived there with her. They had a child together.

During her relationship with Mdluli, Buthelezi met Ramogibe and they began a relationship, and married in July 1998.

Buthelezi did not inform Mdluli of this development. He found out about the wedding and obtained a copy of the marriage certificate.

According to the charge sheet, Ramogibe was in another relationship with Lerato Seballo at the same time as Buthelezi.

"Accused two [Mdluli] visited the homes of Seballo, Sophia Ramogibe, and Jostinah Ramogibe in an attempt to convince them by means of intimidation to put pressure on Tshidi Buthelezi and Oupa to end their relationship," the charge sheet reads.

"Buthelezi and Oupa went into hiding after they got married and it came to their knowledge that Mdluli was looking for them. At one stage, they hid in Orange Farm."

The two accused visited Manana at her Boksburg home in 1998, allegedly took her against her will, and instructed her to show them where Buthelezi and Oupa were hiding.

She was allegedly told to speak the truth or she would be killed. After the assault at the police station, they took her to Orange Farm, and found Buthelezi and Oupa Ramogibe.

The couple were taken to the police station and allegedly assaulted.

Ramogibe was shot dead on February 17, 1999.

The following day the Ramogibe family reported the matter to police.

They claimed Ramogibe received death threats after marrying Buthelezi and was told to leave her or he would be killed. He had opened an attempted murder case before his death.

"It will be alleged that [Mdluli] secreted the police dockets concerning the attempted murder of Alice Manana and the kidnapping of Oupa, in the safe in his office at the Vosloorus police station, to ensure that no further criminal investigations and/or criminal prosecutions would be instituted against him," according to the charge sheet.

The case resumes on December 5.