The commencement of the multi-million-rand corruption trial against African National Congress Member of Parliament and former State Security Minister Bongani Bongo has been postponed to June next year.
Bongo and 17 others – including private entities – face 69 counts of fraud, corruption, and contravention of the Public Management Act.
The case is related to a land deal where the Mpumalanga Human Settlement Department was allegedly defrauded of R74 million.
Bongo and his several co-accused returned to the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday after the case was postponed last week to allow a new lawyer for one of the accused to familiarise himself with the matter.
It’s alleged that the accused worked together to inflate the prices of two farms purchased on behalf of the Mpumalanga Human Settlements Department.
The state claims that the farm owners were paid less than the amount government issued and the accused split the extra money among themselves.
Wednesday’s postponement comes after a lawyer for one of the accused raised issues with the state’s response to his request for further particulars.
The court then gave the defence and the state until next week Wednesday to resolve pre-trial matters.
Due to the conflicting schedules of the state and the defence, the court resolved that the trial would now run from 19 June until 14 July 2023.
-EWN
In other news – Actress Nelisiwe Sibiya tease fans with a hot photo lying on the bed
South African actress Nelisiwe Sibiya who is popularly known for her role as Dr. Mbali Mthethwa on etv’s medical drama Durban Gen has left her followers and fans begging for more after teasing them with a cropped raunchy snap of herself in the bedroom.
Those who know Miss Sibiya, are well aware of how much she loves showing off her natural body and judging from a couple of her pictures on social media, it is indeed a beautiful body. Be it in traditional wear, jeans, skirts, or dresses, she really knows how to put on a sexxy look. Learn More
