Intaka case faces long delay

NEARLY 12 months after their previous appearance, the accused in the Intaka matter, currently before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court, will learn next week whether they will have to wait another year before returning to the dock.

While their co-accused, director of Intaka, Gaston Savoi, was absent yesterday, former ANC provincial chairperson, John Block, former CFO at the Department of Health, Daniel Gaborone, and former director of supply chain management at the department, Sanjay Mittah, appeared in the court yesterday.

During the appearance, their legal representatives opposed further delays in the matter which dates back nearly a decade.

The charges against the accused relate to water purifiers and oxygen machines that were purchased for health facilities in the Province from Intaka Holdings (Pty) Ltd, with the State alleging that inflated prices were charged and kickbacks were paid.

While the matter was expected to be postponed to a later date, this was not to be with the defence arguing that a lengthy postponement would be a violation of the accused’s rights to a speedy trial.

The State prosecutor, advocate Hannes Cloete, said that while the State was not responsible for yesterday’s application for a further, lengthy postponement, they weren’t opposed to the matter being set aside for another year either.

The magistrate extended the accused’s bail until their next appearance on Tuesday (August 21).