DA to lay criminal charges against Security Minister

The DA is to lay criminal charges and lodge a complaint with the Public Protector against State Security Minister Bongani Bongo following further bribery allegations.

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Bongo was to be investigated by Parliament’s Joint Ethics Committee for allegedly attempting to bribe the evidence leader of the Parliamentary inquiry into state capture, advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara.

The DA’s Chief Whip John Steenhuisen says the party will be laying charges of corruption against Bongo in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

He says in addition to the criminal charges, the DA will also be lodging a complaint with the Public Protector.

“It’s become very clear that Mr Bongo has been put into this position at State Security to elevate the cabinet, to be the protector of President Jacob Zuma. He is the latest of the President’s keepers and it’s very clear that his mission in that particular ministry is to ensure that nobody gets close to President Jacob Zuma and gets close to uncovering the network of State Capture that exists,” says Steenhuisen.