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Bongani Bongo.
Lindile Mbontsi, Gallo Images, Daily Sun, archive
- ANC MP Bongani Bongo has been arrested by the Hawks.
- This is related to a corruption case dating back to when he was an official in the Mpumalanga government.
- Bongo also faces another corruption charge at the Cape Town Magistrates Court.
The Hawks issued an arrest warrant for ANC MP Bongani Bongo on Tuesday, hours after he chaired a virtual meeting of Parliament’s home affairs portfolio committee.
Bongo confirmed to News24 that he was heading to Nelspruit with the Hawks, where he is expected to appear in court.
News24 understands that the matter is related to accusations of corruption against Bongo when he was an official in the Mpumalanga human settlements department.
Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi was not available for comment.
It is understood that Bongo will appear with other defendants in Nelspruit Regional Court on Wednesday.
READ | The hawks know nothing about Magashule’s ‘arrest warrant’
Earlier Tuesday, Bongo chaired a portfolio committee meeting, where he received an update from the ministers of the Interior and Communications and Digital Technologies on the steps taken to deal with people involved with the Automated Biometric Identification System.
Separate charges
Bongo also faces separate charges of corruption and bribery, where he is expected to appear before the Cape Town Magistrates Court on November 27.
Bongo is accused of attempting to disrupt a parliamentary investigation into the state capture in Eskom on October 10, 2017.
In 2017, former president Jacob Zuma announced an investigation into the power company following several allegations of corruption.
According to an affidavit from attorney Ntuthuzelo Vanara, who was the investigation’s evidence leader at the time, Bongo allegedly asked him to feign illness and take sick leave because the investigation could not continue in his absence.
Bongo also allegedly offered Vanara, who was the former acting registrar of members’ interests in Parliament, a cash bribe.
All Vanara had to do was “name the price” and explain to Bongo how he would help stop the investigation.
Bongo, in turn, would go back to the “people of Eskom” and explain Vanara’s plan to stop the investigation, and the price they would have to pay for their (Vanara’s) help.
Money would then be given to Bongo, who would hand it over to Vanara, it is alleged.
– Compiled by Qaanitah Hunter
