State Security Minister probed for allegedly trying to bribe state capture lawyer
In addition to a probe by the Hawks for corruption, the new minister of state and security is now under investigation for offering an open cheque to a lawyer to resign from the state capture inquiry.
Former state security minister Bongani Bongo. Picture: Twitter/@lesterkk
Bongani Bongo has spent less than a quarter of the year in his portfolio of state and security – yet he faces another serious allegation of corruption after an affidavit was submitted to parliament by advocate Nthuthuzelo Vanara.
According to Sunday Times, Vanara’s affidavit includes details of how Bongo allegedly offered an open cheque to Vanara who is the evidence leader of Eskom’s state capture inquiry in a bid to ‘frustrate the process.’
“The presiding officers have received an affidavit, although we can’t disclose its source. As is practice on such matters, they have referred it to parliament’s ethics committee. It is hoped the committee will swiftly deal with the matter and report back to both the speaker and the House upon conclusion,” said parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.
Bongo is also said to have being one of several ANC MPs who went to Luthuli House to request for the state capture inquiry to be rescinded.
Bongo replaced David Mahlobo as the state security minister, who has been moved to the energy ministry, in Zuma’s 11th Cabinet reshuffle since taking office in May 2009.
Bongo is being probed by the Hawks for when he was serving as the head of legal services in the department of human settlements in Mpumalanga back in 2012. He is apparently implicated in a deal which saw R300 000 deposited for a luxury vehicle.
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