Date set for Bongani Bongo trial
MBOMBELA - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that the much-awaited trial of former state security minister, Bongani Bongo, and his 11 co-accused will commence in November 2024.
However, there is a possibility that the case may not even go to trial, but only if the court rules in favour of the accused who had earlier brought an application for the matter to be struck off the roll, arguing that there is not sufficient evidence which warrants a conviction.
On Wednesday April 17, the court was expected to hand down its ruling on the matter, but this was postponed to
May 2.
The NPA’s regional spokesperson,
Monica Nyuswa, confirmed that the accused made a brief appearance in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes
Court on Monday April 22, for a pre-trial conference.
This case, which involves some high ranking individuals in Mpumalanga and the Lowveld in particular, including the former ANC provincial deputy chairperson and HOD for human settlements, David Dube, Patrick Chirwa, Harrington Dhlamini, Blessing Singwane, Sipho Joel Bongo, Vusi Willem
Magagula, Bongani Louis Henry Sibiya, Elmon Lawrence Mdaka, Sibongile
Mercy Mdaka, Robert Barwise and Sandile Nkosi, has been dragging in court since the accused were arrested in 2020 and charged with fraud and corruption.
The allegations against the accused are in connection with the R37.5m purchase of a farm in Naauwpoort, eMalahleni, by the Department of Human Settlements, supposedly on behalf of eMalahleni
Local Municipality dating back to
2011.
According to court papers, some of the accused, acting in consent with the common purpose, allegedly exploited the normal phenomenon of the purchase of land by the government by misrepresenting facts to the state regarding the ownership and true sale price of the farm.
The then owner of the farm, Petrus Johannes van Tonder, was allegedly paid R15m for the farm from the R37.5m.
The balance of the money was allegedly paid into the trust account of Singwane Attorneys, in their capacity as conveyancers appointed by the department.
Van Tonder is said to have allegedly paid R1.5m commission to Pam Golding, the estate agent for the transaction.
Singwane Attorneys allegedly paid R22.5m to Little River Trading, which allegedly enabled the accused to lay their hands on the money.
It is further alleged that Bongo was the head of the legal section of the Department of Human Settlements at the time and was part of the committee appointed by the then HOD, Dube, to negotiate the purchase of farms.
The accused pleaded not guilty, with Bongo arguing that his case was politically motivated. They are currently out on bail on condition that they do not interfere with the case and witnesses.
“The state did mention as early as January 10, 2022, that it 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,” said Nyuswa.