/ 28 July 1998

Mpuma mystery suspect surrenders to police

JUSTIN ARENSTEIN, Nelspruit | Monday, 5.00PM

MPUMALANGA’S former legislature secretary, Alfred Mahlangu, surrendered himself to Nelspruit police on Monday morning after inadvertently evading police arrest on fraud charges on Friday.

Mahlangu is the fourth senior legislature official to be arrested over the past three days on fraud and theft charges linked to the alleged embezzlement of an estimated R1,1-million by sacked deputy speaker, Cynthia Maropeng.

Mahlangu turned himself over to Nelspruit fraud unit investigators in the presence of his attorney, Caesar Nzobe, on Monday after hearing that police had unsuccessfully raided his house on Friday morning.

Investigation unit head Superintendent Godfrey Lebeyer told African Eye News Service that Mahlangu will only officially be charged with fraud and theft on Wednesday and will appear in court for bail application immediately afterwards.