ANC heavyweight and former state security minister, Bongani Bongo is in court today along with other accused over the R74 million land deal. This case is being heard at the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Today is the start of the trial of former state security minister and 17 others.
The ANC comrade and 17 other accused stand accused of a raft of graft charges relating to a R74 million land deal dating to years back.
It is alleged that the accused hiked up the prices of two farms purchased by the Mpumalanga Human Settlements Department. This resulted in them ultimately pocketing a significant portion of the money the state ended up forking out for them, and they took it for themselves.
Bongani Bongo is a qualified lawyer, and he was the department’s legal advisor at the time. The state while addressing court, said the parties have agreed that the accused will tender their pleas today, but the state will only begin leading evidence tomorrow.
The state also revealed that it is withdrawing charges against Bongo’s brother, Sipho Bongo, who was one of his co-accused. This is because of the unavailability of a key witness. Some of the counts Bongo himself is facing have also fallen away as a result now.
Social critics said this case might end up like many of those corruption cases that end up without having key witnesses. Many are hoping that the state has a water tight case, otherwise, this will just be another case which will drag for years and end up being thrown away.
Previously, there have been an attempt to have the corruption case against Bongani Bongo dismissed, and this was not successful.
The African National Congress has once again dragged into this, as South Africans are asking themselves if there is a leader in government who is free from these types of scandals.
We’re in the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today, for the start of the trial of former state security minister and ANC MP #BonganiBongo and 17 others. BW pic.twitter.com/EmwxBmqlZ9
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 19, 2023
