The three Mpumalanga government officials accused of corruption have been granted bail.
The provincial Department of Human Settlements head, Kebone Masange (51), the provincial deputy director of public prosecutions, Matric Luphondo (52), and Lt Col Ayanda Plaatjie (45), commander of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigations unit, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court last week for their bail application.
The three are accused of corruption in relation to a case of contravention of the Immigration Act.
Masange was accused of having three South African IDs, although he was born in Zimbabwe, and used these fraudulent documents in his application for the position at the Department of Human Settlements. This is a contravention of the Immigration Act.
Immigration officers arrested him in September, whereafter the Hawks were assigned to the case.
Masange, Luphondo and Plaatjie allegedly colluded to have the case against Masange withdrawn. Luphondo and Plaatjie are accused of bribing another public prosecutor to make the case against Masange disappear.
The provincial Department of Human Settlements redirected all questions to the Office of the Premier.
“Masange has been served with a notice of intention to suspend in accordance with fair administrative processes as outlined in the Public Service Act and Regulations, and other related prescriptions,” said Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni, Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane’s spokesperson.
“After this, a disciplinary process will take place.”
The three accused appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on April 1 where they were granted bail of R20 000 each. All three stated they intended to plead not guilty.
They will appear in court again on July 26.
Prosecutor, Molatlhwa Mashuga, who is leading the state’s case, told the court the state had evidence to prove the guilt of the three accused.
It is alleged that Plaatjie, who was the investigating officer in the immigration case against Masange, approached the prosecutor in the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office in Pretoria and asked if there was a way to make the case disappear.
Luphondo allegedly met up with the prosecutor and handed him R5 000 in cash and an 18-year-old bottle of whiskey.
This article originally appeared on Lowvelder.co.za
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