Prosecutor accused of soliciting R1 500 bribe

A PROSECUTOR charged with corruption after being caught allegedly trying to solicit a bribe from an accused appeared briefly in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Thozama Takane, 45, was arrested on April 23 at the Uitenhage court following swift action by the Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) unit of the Hawks.

It is alleged Takane demanded a R1 500 bribe from a 46-year-old man who is an accused in an assault case.

Hawks spokeswoman Captain Anelisa Feni said Takane allegedly promised to withdraw the case provided he was paid the bribe.

“The 46-year-old man reported the crime and through an undercover operation the SCI arrested Takane in [the Uitenhage Magistrate’s] court after he received the bribe,” Feni said.

Takane appeared in the court on the same day he was arrested.

He was granted R5 000 bail. Part of his bail conditions are that he is not allowed to set foot in the Uitenhage or KwaNobuhle magistrate’s courts.

Yesterday, prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel told magistrate John Montgomery that Takane had changed his legal representation since his first appearance and would now be represented by attorney George Malgas.

Malgas confirmed he had been appointed to represent Takane.

The case was postponed to August 2.