Bongani Bongo’s case postponed

MBOMBELA - The multimillion rand fraud and corruption case against former minister of state security, Bongani Bongo, and his 11 co-accused has been postponed to November 16.

The 12 accused appeared in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, for the start of their trial in which they face 69 counts of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravening the Public Finance Management Act for their alleged involvement in questionable land deals dating back to 2011.

Bongo had been an official in the Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements when the land deals allegedly took place.

The co-accused are Robert Burwise, Patrick Donald Chirwa, Harrington Sizwakhendaba Dhlamini, Blessing Mduduzi Singwane, David Boy Dube, Sipho Joel Bongo, Vusi Willem Magagula, Bongani Louis Henry Sibiya, Elmon Lawrence Mdaka, Sibongile Mercy Mdaka and Sandile Nkosi.

They are out on R10 000 bail each. Mpumalanga’s National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said the trial could not proceed due to conflicting instructions accused six (Singwane) gave his legal representatives.

“One was told to proceed with the trial, while the other legal representative was told to request further particulars from the state,” said Nyuswa.

“The state will reply by November 11 and the trial will resume on November 16. The state was ready to proceed,” she said.

Lowvelder previously reported that the former minister, an ANC MP, and the other accused allegedly bought farms, which the department had purchased for township development in Ermelo, eMalahleni and Malalane, at inflated prices.

According to the Hawks, the department already owned a property that could have been used for the same purpose. The combined value of the three farms was actually around R70m, but due to the alleged corrupt dealings, the deals cost the department R123.9m.

The National Prosecuting Authority said the trial could not proceed due to conflicting instructions