Traditional leader on fraud charge

Headman, confidantes accused of improper financial conduct

An Eastern Cape traditional leader and two of his close confidantes appeared in court facing theft and fraud charges involving R800,000.

AmaMpondo traditional leader Nkosana Sonwabile Wellington Jama, 44, headman of the violence-torn Khanyayo administrative district, appeared at the Mthontsasa periodical court near Flagstaff. He is headman of Sicambeni and Zitha villages.

Jama, whose jurisdiction includes the R1bn Mtentu megabridge project and N2 Wild Coast Toll Road, appeared alongside his committee secretary, Bulelani Giyose, 43 and committee chairperson Thembisile Bhabha Zweni, 57. Zweni also has a pending case of arson set down for July 19.

In April, the Dispatch reported that Khanyayo residents fled into the bush after violence broke out in the village over issues including demarcation, traditional leadership disputes and a tender dispute linked to the Mtentu bridge project. Fiftyfive homesteads burnt down in Sicambeni and Zitha.

During meetings with government leaders, the bridge and toll road emerged at the centre of a traditional leadership boundary and power dispute which sparked the inter-village conflagration.

Jama and his co-accused were arrested after premier Oscar Mabuyane, a delegation of MECs and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga visited Khanyayo.

They were told that Jama was unduly benefiting from the N2 road and bridge through his business interests in the project and that he was working with investors. This was was denied by Jama.

On May 30, Jama and the other two handed themselves over to the Mthontsasa police and were arrested following a three-month investigation.

In their bail application affidavits, they told magistrate Hlalanathi Nyezi that the case against them was baseless and would plead not guilty since they had a “bona fide defence”.

Jama said he was a “chief” and if not granted bail, his community would be leaderless and suffer. His children would drop out of school and be destitute.

The state did not oppose the application but wanted bail set at R15,000 each, not R500 as was requested. Nyezi set bail at R3,000 each.

He said the accused were facing a serious case of a fraudulent transaction totalling R793,859.

Referring to the crowd in the gallery and passages, with some peering in the window, he noted that the case had attracted plenty of public interest.

Jama told the Dispatch: “While we maintain innocence, people must respect the law and understand even we royals are not immune from arrest. We are not above the law. We are sure the court will acquit us.’’

In the same court, three women – Honjiswa Somtswaza, Khunjulwa Zweni, and Tshongwana Mondelwa – who are all Jama’s subjects and supporters, appeared on charges of arson. They are on R800 bail each.

Police spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the crime was allegedly committed between 2016-2018.

“The suspects are accused of theft. That money was under the Khanyayo Community Trust administered, by the three suspects.”

We royals are not immune from arrest. We are sure the court will acquit us