Hawks wraps up part of Bongo probe
He’s unlikely to be charged soon
Controversial State Security Minister Bongani Bongo is subject to two high-level corruption investigations by the Hawks.
The minister was most likely to be charged with corruption charges for a 2011 matter. The investigating unit has already wrapped up part of its investigation.
Bongo faces allegations of corruption following a deal that saw a R300 000 deposit for his luxury vehicle being made by a firm that benefited in a controversial land deal under his watch about six years ago.
Sowetan has learnt the Hawks were about to launch a second investigation into Bongo. This comes three weeks after the DA laid charges of corruption against the minister in the Western Cape after he allegedly tried to undermine the parliamentary Eskom inquiry.
A Hawks insider close to the investigations said one probe had been finalised and the docket was ready to be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision.
“We are just waiting for Assets Forfeiture Unit to come on board. However, it is unlikely that Bongo could be charged soon given that there is the ANC elective conference next week,” the insider said.
Another insider told Sowetan that a docket for the new matter was handed over to the Hawks on Friday.
“We received the case on Friday and going forward we will be contacting witnesses for sworn statements,” the insider said.
The charges relate to a damning affidavit by the evidence leader advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara in the Eskom probe.
Vanara alleged Bongo offered him a bribe to collapse the parliamentary probe.
In a sworn affidavit, Vanara confirmed Bongo had offered him a blank cheque to be honoured if he were to step down from the inquiry.
Bongo yesterday declined to comment, but two weeks earlier had denied any wrongdoing.
At the time, he told Sowetan that some senior ANC leaders, including those from his home province of Mpumalanga, were behind a smear campaign to tarnish his name.
“I know there are people who are behind this ... people are angry that I’m a minis- ter,” he said.
On the Eskom matter, Bongo admitted to have met Vanara to discuss legal issues as they were both lawyers.
“I have never promised him money or anything. To my surprise, just when I was appointed minister, he writes an affidavit,” he said.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said both investigations were still underway.
DA’s Grant Caswell said: “We haven’t heard anything about the progress of the investigations.”