ANC MP Bongo back in dock for graft

ANC MP and former state security minister Bongani Bongo will start the new year with two court appearances in just two months.

Bongo’s trial will start in the Western Cape High Court in February, where he is expected to answer to bribery and corruption charges after allegations that he tried to bribe a parliamentary official.

In another matter related to dodgy land deals, Bongo is expected to appear in a Mpumalanga court in March, on charges of corruption and fraud.

Yesterday, the corruption-accused chair of parliament’s home affairs committee made a brief appearance during a virtual pretrail hearing in the Cape court.

It’s alleged that Bongo tried bribing a senior parliamentary official, advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, in an attempt to disrupt an inquiry into Eskom. Vanara was the inquiry’s leader at the time.

Eric Ntabazalila, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman in the Western Cape, in a brief note, said: “Mr Bongo’s case has been postponed for plea and trial to 15 until 26 February, 2021. His bail is extended.”

Bongo’s matter is linked to former president Jacob Zuma’s announcement in 2017 of an inquiry into the power utility for graft.