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Judge Hlophe cautions prosecution to ensure witnesses appear in Bongo case
By Mwangi Githahu
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Cape Town - Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe on Tuesday cautioned the state prosecutors in the case of the ANC MP and former state security minister Bongani Bongo, to ensure their witnesses appear when required.
Judge Hlophe was forced to adjourn proceedings early after two of the state’s witnesses, secretary to the National Council of Provinces division Modibedi Phindela and acting secretary to Parliament Penelope Tyawa, failed to appear in court to give evidence in the case where Bongo is charged with attempting to bribe a senior parliamentary official.
Bongani Bongo’s legal representative has accused Parliament’s former senior manager in charge of legal and constitutional services, Ntuthuzelo Vanara, of implicating the former State Security minister in corruption for political reasons.
Vanara testified that since his appointment as evidence leader on September 1, 2017, he had seen and heard “overwhelming evidence of maleficence” during preparation for the hearings, which had led to him becoming concerned for his safety. Even the location of his meeting the next day would only be made known to the various parties two hours beforehand.
While he was sitting in traffic on his way to the airport, Bongo phoned again, this time proposing to meet at the airport. But Vanara said this would not be possible and insisted on sticking to their October 9 appointment.
After Vanara landed in Johannesburg, he and portfolio committee for public enterprises secretary Disang Mocumi were driving through Sandton when he asked whether Disang knew who Bongo was.