Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Director General in the KwaZulu-Natal’s Office of the Premier, was released on bail after spending five nights in jail.

Mkhize, along with Mhlathuze Chief Executive Officer, Mthokozisi Duze; businessmen Siphiwe Mabasa and Sithembiso Ralph Mhlanga are charged with intimidation and defeating the ends of justice.

The charges relate to a separate but related corruption case where the accused are alleged to have unlawfully tried to bury a forensic report that implicated them in irregular contracts valued at R37m at Mhlathuze Water.

Also read: Senior officials at Mhlathuze Water accused of burying damning forensic report

Mkhize and Mabasa are not charged in the corruption case, while Mhlanga and Duze are charged in both cases.

Earlier today, Magistrate Garth Davis said based on the evidence presented during the bail application, it was clear that Mkhize had a ‘limited role’ in the alleged intimidation that she is charged with.

“The evidentiary material advanced in respect of the first applicant (Mkhize) does not cross the threshold of a likelihood that if she was released, she would attempt to intimidate or influence witnesses,” said Davis.

He set Mkhize’s bail at R25 000 along with several conditions.

Davis said Mkhize is not to speak to any of the state witnesses in the case, enter or be within 500 meters of Mhlathuze Water and not attempt to dissipate any of her assets.

Mkhize was also ordered to surrender her passport and she will have to inform the investigating officer if she wants to leave the province.

The ruling was greeted with cheers in the court, with a clearly relieved Mkhize letting out a loud sigh.

Mkhize was arrested on Sunday during a raid by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and had been remanded at the Durban Central holding cells.

Also read: KZN DG arrested for allegedly blocking probe into financial irregularities

According to the charge sheet, Mkhize is alleged to have ‘induced’ the chairperson of the board of Mhlathuze Water to meet with Mhlanga and Duze and hand over a forensic report that implicated the two men.

In an affidavit presented to court, Mkhize said she intends on pleading not guilty to the charges against her.

Davis said a ruling on the bail application of the remaining three; Duze, Mabasa and Mhlanga, will be made next Tuesday.

Due to the ‘voluminous’ nature of the submissions made to court, Davis said he still needed to go through all of them before making a ruling.