SCA overturns Bongani Bongo bribery & corruption ruling, orders new trial

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has overturned a high court ruling that dismissed the bribery and corruption trial of African National Congress (ANC) MP Bongani Bongo.

On Monday, the SCA delivered its judgment granted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) leave to appeal the Western Cape High Court’s February 2021 ruling.

Former judge president of the Western Cape High Court, John Hlophe, who was recently impeached, had dismissed Bongo’s case due to lack of evidence after the former State Security Minister filed a discharge application.

However, the SCA has since found that “the high court made several mistakes of law”.

These “mistakes”, therefore, warranted the reversal of the discharge order and a retrial.

This means the corruption case will return to the Western Cape High Court for a new trial before a different judge.

Bongo was accused of trying to bribe an evidence leader in Parliament’s 2017 inquiry probing state capture at Eskom.

Read the full judgment below:

In other news – #RIPMphoSebeng: Natasha Thahane under fire over her reaction to Mpho Sebeng’s death

Well-known South African actress Natasha Thahane has been labeled “dramatic” following her reaction to the news of Mpho Sebeng’s death. Sebeng, who was a child star and thespian, tragically died in a car accident in Potchefstroom, North West, in the early hours of Sunday, 5 May.

As tributes continue to pour in from the actor’s colleagues, Thahane – who shared the screen with Sebeng on Saints and Sinners – posted a screenshot of her phone log to indicate she is in disbelief and she’s been trying to get ahold of him since the tragic news. Read More