The high-profile fraud and corruption case involving former State Security Minister Bongani Bongo and 16 other defendants has recommenced at the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
Witness number eleven, William Thulare Madileng, has taken the stand, shedding light on employee financial disclosures and code of conduct during his tenure as Chief Director of Corporate Services in the provincial Human Settlements Department in 2013.
During the previous day’s proceedings, Thokozani Dlamini, the former Chief Financial Officer, provided a detailed testimony about how department officials negotiated the price of a farm, initially listed at R81 million, but eventually sold for R32 million.
However, the former owner of the Naauwpoort farm in eMalahleni, Petros Johannes Van Tonder, contradicted Dlamini’s account, stating that he received only R17.5 million for the sale of his property.
Bongo and his co-accused face charges of corruption, fraud, theft, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act related to irregular land deals within the provincial Human Settlements Department between 2010 and 2011.
The trial proceedings are expected to continue in the coming days, as the court hears from additional witnesses and examines further evidence related to the alleged fraudulent activities within the Human Settlements Department.
