/ 17 August 1999

MABONA CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION

ANTI-CORRUPTION investigator judge Willem Heath on Tuesday withdrew demands that Mpumalanga public works, roads and transport, safety and security MEC, Steve Mabona, refund the state R52000. Heath made his decision after Mabona’s legal team supplied him with new information at a pre-trial meeting on July 15 proving that the departmental control system and not Mabona was at fault. He said government was therefore legally liable for any losses. Mabona said he had instructed his lawyers to pursue defamation action suits against some members of the Heath unit and certain newspapers. Mabona was accused of irregularly using state funds to repair damages to a rented car.