KZN MEC, speaker get R100 000 bail
2011-08-01 11:18
Pietermaritzburg - KwaZulu-Natal economic
development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu and the province's legislature speaker Peggy
Nkonyeni were granted R100 000 bail each by the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's
Court on Monday.
Their co accused, former KZN health
department head Ronald Green-Thompson was released on R40 000 bail.
The State did not oppose bail, arguing the
accused were not flight risks. They were told to appear in court again on
January 20 next year for a High Court date.
The trio face fraud and corruption charges
relating to a R1m "donation" paid by South American
businessman Gaston Savoi to the ANC in 2007, allegedly in exchange for a R45m government tender.
Standard procedures were allegedly bypassed
to award a tender to Savoi's company Intaka, to supply water purification
plants to hospitals and clinics in KwaZulu-Natal at inflated prices.
Mabuyakhulu was the ANC's provincial
treasurer and Nkonyeni health MEC when the deal was concluded. Mabuyakhulu is
now a member of the ANC provincial executive and Nkonyeni the ANC's provincial
treasurer.
Senior African National Congress leaders who
accompanied the two included provincial deputy chairperson Willies Mchunu, ANC
provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala, ANC provincial deputy secretary Nomusa
Dube and several provincial executive committee members.
- SAPA
