A STATE witness in the corruption case against former state security minister, Bongani Bongo, and his co-accused told the court that recommendations were made for the sale of two farms.
The witness, Thabo Mashile, who was the the supply chain management acting director at the Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements between 2010 and 2011, testified before the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, 20 June.
He told the court that on 19 March 2010, he received an appointment letter from the then head of department, David Dube, who is also an accused in the matter. He said he was appointed alongside other members to be part of a committee of land negotiators within the department, which was chaired by Peter Nyoni.
"At the time there was a request for the purchase of land from Emakhazeni and Emalahleni municipalities for human settlement purposes. We were required to negotiate the fair market value of the land and ensure the department accepts it," he said.
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Mashile said they started negotiating with the seller's representative, which was a company.
"The property which we were to negotiate the price for at Emalahleni is Naauwpoort farm. We were expected to conclude the negotiations or the whole process before the end of the financial year, which was 31 March 2010. The decision was taken while Mr Cyril Dlamini was still CFO," he said.
Mashile said that the price was more than what the department was bargaining for, adding that he thought that the Emalahleni seller planned to sell the farm for at least more than R30 million.
He said the initial sale of Doornhoek farm was about R52 400 000 and it was only sold for R26 590 000, while Naauwpoort farm was intended to be sold at R64 million, but ended up being sold at R37 500 000.
He said the department could not purchase Naauwpoort farm at the time due to unavailability of funds.
Bongo, Robert Burwise, Patrick Chirwa, Harrington Dhlamini, Blessing Singwane, David Dube, Vusi Magagula, Bongani Sibiya, Elmon Mdaka, Sibongile Mdaka and Sandile Nkosi, as well as five companies face 85 charges ranging from fraud, theft and corruption to contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
The allegations are in connection with a R37,5 million sale and purchase of a farm in Naauwpoort, Emalahleni by the Department of Human Settlements, supposedly on behalf of Emalahleni Municipality.
