Mnquma boss out on R40 000 bail

MNQUMA municipal manager Sindile Tantsi was released on R40 000 bail by the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Tantsi, who could not appear in court immediately after his arrest by the Hawks last week, because he was admitted to an East London hospital after taking ill, made his first appearance yesterday.

Tantsi and Butterworth businessman Sive Nombembe, arrested by the Hawks a day after Tantsi’s arrest, together face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. Nombembe was released on R35 000 bail after his court appearance last week.

The charges relate to a R10-million refuse bag tender, which the troubled local authority issued two years ago to Nombembe’s company, Big Event Boy.

It is alleged that Tantsi received more than R2-million in kickbacks from the multimillion-rand tender.

Although he was not asked to plead, in his bail application affidavit he said he would plead not guilty to all charges.

Applying for bail yesterday, Tantsi told the court he was arrested near a filling station on Mthatha’s outskirts.

His lawyer, advocate Zilwa SC, put it to the court that Tantsi had never been out of the country and argued therefore that he be released on bail as he was not a flight risk.

He also argued that it would be unfair to keep Tantsi detained as this was the first time he had been arrested for an alleged crime.

The court also heard that Tantsi was a father of nine children, all of whom, with the exception of his 25year-old firstborn, were his dependents.

“I am earning R74 000 a month and have a number of social responsibilities. I’m also a treasurer in the church council.

“I won’t abandon my home or my assets. I am fully prepared to abide by any condition,” he swore in his affidavit. —