South Africa
Police in South Africa on Thursday arrested and charged a senior lawmaker from the country’s ruling African National Congress party, over corruption.
Bongani Bongo, a former state security minister under former president Jacob Zuma, is accused of interfering with an inquiry into corruption at state power utility Eskom, police spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi told Reuters.
Bongo allegedly asked the inquiry’s evidence leader to go on sick leave in 2017 to frustrate its progress, Mulaudzi said.
Bongo, who was not immediately available for comment, chairs parliament’s portfolio committee on home affairs.
He appeared in court in Cape Town and was released on bail of 5,000 rand ($338.70), Mulaudzi said, adding Bongo was due back in court on Jan. 31.
Should this high-profile trial lead to a conviction, it might lend credence to president Cyril Ramaphosa’s fight against corruption.
01:50
Sudanese denounce operations of paramilitary unit after killing of a man
03:26
Long recovery and dying doctors: How Africa is battling coronavirus
01:00
The UN Appoints New Emissaries from Guinea and South Africa
01:45
Cameroon: Douala residents lose homes to demolition
00:55
Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono arrested
01:15
Uganda: Police chief threatens to beat journalists for their own safety