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Mpumalanga ‘did nothing’ about dodgy land deals involving Bongani Bongo

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Minister of State Security Bongani Bongo. (Jan Gerber, News24)
Minister of State Security Bongani Bongo. (Jan Gerber, News24)

The Mpumalanga government did not lift a finger to try and recoup about R68.9 million that was lost when State Security Minister Bongani Bongo - who served as the head of legal service in the Mpumalanga department of human settlements - and other human settlements officials allegedly milked taxpayers through dodgy land deals.

Mpumalanga’s human settlements department has buttoned its lips on this matter while Premier David Mabuza’s office has confirmed that neither internal disciplinary measures nor criminal charges were pursued.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) laid charges with the Hawks concerning the sale of the 414-hectare Rietspruit farm in Ermelo, at R36.4 million in 2011.

The deals involving the other two farms – the 70-hectare Malelane farm sold to the department at R50 million in 2011 and the 74.2-hectare Naauwpoort in Emalahleni sold for R37.5 million – were reported to the Hawks by unknown whistle blowers.

Rietspruit was valued at R11.9 million. Malelane farm was valued at R41 million, and Naauwpoort was valued at R2.1 million. The three farms eventually cost the Mpumalanga human settlements department R123.9 million instead of R55 million.

The Hawks are now on top of the matter, despite the Mpumalanga government’s inaction.

Mabuza axed human settlements executives including Bongo and former head of department, David Dube, following the outbreak of the scandal but for other reasons: failure to deliver RDP houses and politicking.

Bongo, who as a legal adviser drafted the contracts, was an ANC provincial executive committee member when he was moved to the Integrity Management Unit in Mabuza’s office and later redeployed to Parliament.

Dube was the provincial ANC deputy chairperson. His contract was not renewed when it expired and he was redeployed to the legislature.

A former human settlements executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the department could have acted but let the matter pass.

“The department did not launch an internal inquiry when the matter came up and, therefore, there was no formal declaration that money was lost. The matter was left hanging because no investigation was done internally,” he said.

“I think there were political considerations made at the time when this matter was not pursued,” he added.

Provincial human settlements spokesperson, Freddy Ngobe, did not respond to written questions that were emailed to him last Tuesday. Ngobe, however, confirmed receiving our questions.

DA provincial leader, James Masango, said while the party welcomed the Hawks’ probe, the department should also have investigated.

“The provincial government has for too long, failed to investigate and curb the Mpumalanga trend of government purchasing land at exorbitant prices” Masango said.

“The DA hopes the probe by the Hawks will be thorough, so that the NPA can be presented with compelling evidence that they can use to prosecute and convict all those who have been implicated. A successful investigation and prosecution even has the potential to unearth more role players and more corruption in relation to land purchases in the province,” he said.

Meanwhile, Emalahleni’s Masakhane Township, which was supposed to be built at Naauwpoort, has not got off the ground yet. Msukaligwa has proclaimed the township, Ermelo Ext 14, and its plan has been registered with the surveyor-general.

Nkomazi municipality has only appointed a developer.

One of the individuals implicated in the Hawks investigation confirmed to City Press about a year ago that he was the developer of the Masakhane Township.

Little Trading co-owner, Harrington Dhlamini, said at the time that the Masakhane Township was on track. Dhlamini co-owned Little Trading with Patrick Chirwa and Robert Burwise.

Little Trading facilitated the sale of Naauwpoort. The company stands accused of receiving R4.2 million of the land sale money from conveyancer, Singwane and Partners, and then channelled R600 000 to Northcliff BMW toward a luxury BMW worth R1.3 million. The vehicle was registered in Bongo’s brother’s name, but tracker records indicated that Bongo used and claimed for travel expenses from the department.

When contacted for comment Dhlamini’s phone was off and he did not return calls or respond to a text message.

Emalahleni municipal spokesperson, Kingdom Mabuza, referred questions to human settlements because “they appoint developers on behalf the municipality”.

Ngobe did not respond.

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