Johannesburg – African National Congress (ANC) MP Bongani Bongo is finally facing the music for allegedly bribing a parliamentary official to derail an Eskom inquiry.
Bongo appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Monday to face corruption allegations three years after a criminal case was opened against him.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
He is accused of offering a parliamentary inquiry evidence leader, Ntuthuzelo Vanara, a blank cheque, basically telling him to name his price to derail the inquiry into state capture at Eskom.
The court was told how Bongo had made contact with Vanara a few times before eventually going to his office in Parliament. It was at this point that Bongo allegedly offered Vanara a bribe.
Vanara said that he first reported his interaction with Bongo to National Council of Provinces (NCOP) secretary Modibedi Phindela and Parliament secretary Penelope Tyawa.
Bongo pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied offering a bride to Vanara.
Bongo is also accused of corruption in connection with a dodgy land deal in Mpumalanga.
