TRIAL DATE FOR R74 MILLION FRAUD AND CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST FORMER STATE SECURITY MINISTER AND 11 OTHERS SET FOR NOVEMBER
01 APRIL 2022
The former State Security Minister, Bongani Bongo and his 11 co-accused made a brief appearance in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court yesterday for a pre-trial conference.
On 10 January 2022, the state was ready to proceed with the trial. However, some of the accused changed their legal representatives and the matter was postponed for the new legal representatives to familiarise themselves with the contents of the dockets.
Robert Barwise, Patrick Donald Chirwa, Harrington Sizwakhendaba Dhlamini, Blessing Singwane, David Boy Dube, Sipho Joel Bongo, Vusi Willem Magagula, Bongani Louis Henry Sibiya, Elmon Lawrence Mdaka, Sibongile Mercy Mdaka and Sandile Nkosi are facing 69 charges ranging from fraud, theft, corruption, contravention of Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The following companies, Little River Trading 156 (Pty)Ltd, Broad Markert Trading 204 Pty Ltd, Bongiveli CC, and Pfuka Afrika CC are also charged.
The allegations are in connection with the R37.5 million sale and purchase of a farm in Naauwpoort, eMalahleni by the Department of Human Settlements (DoHS), supposedly on behalf of eMalahleni Municipality. Some of the accused acting in concert with the common purpose, exploited the normal phenomenon of the purchase of land by the government by misrepresenting facts to the State (DoHS) regarding the ownership and true sale price of the farm. The real owner of the farm, Petrus Johannes Van Tonder was paid R15 million for the farm from the R37.5 million.