The saga of Mpumalanga public works minister Steve Mabona continued this week with the appearance of Mabona’s head of department, William Mthombothi, in the Pretoria Regional Court on charges of fraud.
The state alleges that Mthombothi fraudulently authorised the transfer of R6,6-million from the public works department to businessman Walter Senoko’s company, Positioning Corporate Underwriter and Insurance Consultant (PCUIC).
Mthombothi was arrested by the Scorpions in November last year.
The Mail & Guardian revealed the transaction last year, and that R1-million of the R6,6-million was given to Mabona by Senoko.
Mabona and others involved in the saga deny the R1-million payments by PCUIC constituted kickbacks, saying they were for legitimate deals between Mabona and Senoko.
The R6,6-million transfer stemmed from a three-way deal between the department, PCUIC and a construction company, DZ Civils.
Contractually the money was due to DZ Civils for road construction the department commissioned, but by agreement reached by the three parties, the money had been released for a commission to PCUIC before it was due to DZ Civils.
PCUIC supplied the guarantees to enable the department to release the money. The M&G reported in November that the Scorpions believe that PCUIC did not have the standing to issue the guarantees. Mthombothi accepted PCUIC’s guarantees.
Mthombothi, who is out on R20 000 bail, was not asked to plead and the case was postponed to March 31.
Approached by the M&G this week, Mthombothi’s legal representative, Obert Ntuli, said: ‘I am not discussing my client’s case … If you’re calling about that, just forget it.â€