Out on R20 000 bail, Mti joins accused list
President vows to tackle all issues haunting SA: Eskom, graft, health and jobs, writes Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
FORMER Correctional Services boss Linda Mti, who allegedly facilitated the payment of more than R1 billion to Bosasa in fraudulent tenders, will stand in the accused box next month alongside Angelo Agrizzi, who blew the whistle on him.
Yesterday the National Prosecuting Authority added Mti as the sixth accused person among those who will be facing trial for offences which were uncovered during the hearings since last month into state capture headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The seventh suspect, who is believed to be in the US, is due to be flown back to South Africa to join his co-accused: Mti, Agrizzi, former Correctional Services chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham, Bosasa official Andries van Tonder, former senior manager Frans Vorster and incumbent employee Carlos Bonifacio.
The State is due to officially add the names of three companies in the charge sheet.
Mti made a lone appearance in the Pretoria Special Commercial Crimes Court yesterday after spending almost two hours going through official arrest processes.
He was charged with contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and corruption. Mti was not asked to plead. He arrived in court just after 1pm.
As always, his demeanour was that of a relaxed person.
Dressed elegantly as always, he walked slowly to court 19 accompanied by his legal representative and some of the Hawks investigators.
Inside court, Mti had to initial his sworn affidavit as required by any accused person facing a schedule five offence – which required him to give finer details which would allow him, without any opposition, to be released on bail.
Mti, through his advocate, SW van der Merwe, told the court that he was married and had immovable property worth R5 million.
He also told the court that he had movable property in excess of R1m.
Mti also admitted that he had a previous conviction, of drunken driving in 2009 when he paid a fine of R20 000.
Van der Merwe did not reveal details of his client’s schedule five application as the State had already indicated that they would not oppose his bail application.
After his brief appearance, Mti was escorted back to the holding cells while his lawyer drove to the nearby Pretoria magistrate’s court to pay for his bail of R20 000.
Van der Merwe managed to pay for bail soon after the court had reopened after a lunch recess.
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has announced major changes in fixing state-owned entities and confirmed the unbundling of Eskom.
The president also revealed that the elections will be held on May 8.
In his State of the Nation Address (Sona) last night Ramaphosa hinted that the government will carry Eskom’s R100 billion debt, following its request last year.
This would see its debt coming down from R419bn, and the utility would now be split into transmission, generation and distribution entities.
This is in line with the recommendations of the task team set up by Ramaphosa last year.
Eskom has remained a huge risk to the economy.
“To bring credibility to the turnaround and to position South Africa’s power sector for the future we will immediately embark on a process of establishing three separate entities: generation, transmission and distribution, under Eskom Holdings,” said the president.
He also spoke strongly about fixing the security agencies, saying they were key in fighting corruption and state capture.
He said the committee chaired by former minister Sydney Mufamadi to restructure the State Security Agency had made recommendations.
Ramaphosa added that he would re-establish the foreign and domestic branches of the intelligence agencies.
The president will chair the revived National Security Council to ensure proper co-ordination at all levels of the intelligence services.
Despite speaking tough on state capture, Ramaphosa did not say a word about Bosasa.
The EFF and DA have been pushing for him to come clean on the R500 000 donated to him by Bosasa for his campaign to lead the ANC.
The Red Berets did not carry out their threat to disrupt the sitting over the Bosasa matter.
However, Ramaphosa has seen Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on the Bosasa matter.
Mkhwebane confirmed to the media that she would release a report on Bosasa in the next two to three months, and she would interview more people and get more evidence.
Ramaphosa said the evidence from the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture was disturbing.
“To this end, we have agreed with the National Director of Public Prosecutions that there is an urgent need to establish in the office of the NDPP an investigating directorate dealing with serious corruption and associated offences,” he said. Ramaphosa added they would establish the new directorate soon. The new National Prosecuting Authority head, Shamila Batohi, has said the new unit would be established as a matter of priority.
Ramaphosa also told Parliament that a bill on National Health Insurance would soon be tabled.
“After extensive consultation, the NHI bill will soon be ready for submission to Parliament.
“The NHI Bill will enable South Africans to receive free services at the point of care in public and private quality-accredited health facilities,” he said. Ramaphosa added that the
We’ve agreed there’s a need to establish in the office of the NDPP an investigating directorate to deal with graft President Cyril Ramaphosa
government wanted to attract more investments to the country.
The president has been pushing to raise $100 billion (R1.3 trillion).
He said they wanted to grow the economy and create more jobs for the people. Ramaphosa also told the House that they would fast-track land reform, and a panel was helping out on this.
The work done by the government on the expropriation of land without compensation would be supported.
Land parcels from the state would be identified, to be used for land reform purposes, including the building of houses.
Parliament this week released the names of MPs to serve on the ad hoc committee to draft a bill to amend section 25 of the constitution regarding land expropriation.