Bongani Bongo’s Bribery Case
By Natalie Naidoo
Former State Security Minister Bongani Bongo will face a full retrial starting today, Tuesday, 6 February 2025, after his previous acquittal was overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). The case relates to allegations of bribery connected to Parliament’s 2017 state capture inquiry into Eskom.
The retrial follows a legal victory by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which successfully argued that legal mistakes were made in Bongo’s 2021 acquittal by former Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
Background: The Bribery Allegations Against Bongo
The case dates back to October 2017, when Bongo, then Minister of State Security, allegedly offered a blank cheque to Parliament’s evidence leader, Ntuthuzelo Vanara, in an attempt to derail the Eskom state capture inquiry.
Vanara, who was a senior legal advisor at Parliament at the time, claimed that Bongo tried to bribe him into delaying the start of the inquiry, which was looking into corruption and mismanagement at Eskom.
Following the allegations, Bongo was charged with corruption and arrested in 2019.
Bongo’s Initial Acquittal and the NPA’s Appeal
In 2021, the Western Cape High Court acquitted Bongo, with Judge John Hlophe ruling that there was insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Bongo never testified in the first trial, as his legal team successfully applied for a discharge—a legal move that allows a case to be dismissed if the defense argues that the state failed to present enough evidence.
In 2022, the NPA attempted to appeal the acquittal, but Hlophe dismissed their application for leave to appeal.
However, the NPA escalated the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), which ruled in 2024 that Hlophe had made legal errors in dismissing the case.
The SCA’s judgment stated that if Bongo had testified, he would likely have been convicted based on the evidence presented. As a result, the acquittal was overturned, and the case was re-enrolled for trial.
Bongo: “I Want to Clear My Name”
Speaking to the media after the SCA ruling, Bongo said he welcomed the retrial, adding that he wants the matter to be resolved once and for all.
“I’m looking forward to the process. Let’s take it. Let’s see what comes out of it. I’m okay. I don’t want a cloud on my name in the future,” Bongo said.
Bongo, who is no longer a Member of Parliament, has insisted that he did nothing wrong and that the case is politically motivated.
What to Expect from the Retrial
The re-enrollment of the case means that Bongo will face the same charges as before, and the legal proceedings will effectively restart from the beginning.
Key Developments to Watch:
1. Bail Application:
• Bongo is expected to apply for bail today (Tuesday, 6 February 2025) before the case is formally transferred to the High Court.
2. New Testimony from Bongo:
• Unlike the first trial, where he never testified, Bongo may be required to take the stand this time.
3. Ntuthuzelo Vanara’s Testimony:
• The former parliamentary evidence leader is now Chief Legal Advisor at the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
• His testimony will be crucial, as his original version of events was criticized by Judge Hlophe in the 2021 ruling.
4. NPA’s Strategy:
• The NPA is determined to secure a conviction after successfully appealing the previous acquittal.
• Lead prosecutors will focus on proving that Bongo’s actions constituted a direct attempt to obstruct a parliamentary inquiry.

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