/ 18 May 1999

MANGOPE CLEARED OF FRAUD

CHARGES of fraud and theft involving R10-million were withdrawn against the United Christian Democratic Party in the Mafikeng High Court on Monday. Former Bophutatswana president, Chief Lucas Mangope, is the party leader. UCDP spokesman Sipho Mfundisi said the charges related to allegations that the party, then known as the CDP, misused government funds to bolster its own coffers prior to the 1994 elections. The North West provincial government opened the case following the Skweyiya Commission’s report on corruption in the former Bophutatswana homeland government.