The case against late businessman Sandile Majali was formally withdrawn in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
Advocate Shaun Abrahams presented Majali's death certíficate to Magistrate Ashika Ramlaal.
"This is for the record, the accused is now deceased," Abrahams told the court.
Senior counsel on behalf of Majali, advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza said: "The only thing is my client never had an opportunity to prove his innocence."
He had been accused of "hijacking" Kalahari Resources by allegedly changing the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office's record to list himself as one of mining company's directors.