AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
SOUTH Africa’s National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole has suspended his deputy who has been arrested and charged with several counts of fraud and corruption.
Sitole has suspended Lieutenant-General Christine Bonang Mgwenya who on Monday appeared in court following her arrest, where she was released on bail of R20 000.
“After receiving a report on these charges from the Investigating Directorate, the National Commissioner followed due process and suspended her yesterday with immediate effect pending a departmental investigation,” the South Africa Police said in a statement..
Mgwenya is now the 15th suspect and the 9th police officer who have been arrested and appeared in court in connection with a 2017 multi-million rand tender fraud to purchase blue lights and radios for police vehicles
According to the charge sheet, Mgwenya, who is out on bail of R20 000, received gifts, including a R400 000 kickback, from a company that won the R191-million tender. The R400 000 was payment towards a new BMW X5 and was made by Instrumentation Traffic Law Enforcement, owned by Vimpie Manthata.
Mathatha’s company had already received R65-million of the R191-million when the irregular contract was flagged.
On November 16, Mgwenya will join other senior police officer in the dock including, former national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, former Gauteng police commissioner Deliwe de Lange, Gauteng deputy police commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, retired divisional commissioner Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, Brigadier James Ramajalum, Major General Ravichandran Pillay, Colonel Thomas Dumas Marima and Sergeant Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa.
The senior police officers have been charged together with Manthatha, Judy Rose and Samantha Andrews.
