Durban — The Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has eased bail conditions for officials linked to the R37 million Mhlathuze Water procurement project in November 2018.
The group including the director-general (DG) in the office of the KwaZulu-Natal premier, Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize, 49, and officials Simphiwe Mabaso, 43, Sthembiso Ralph Mhlanga, 41, CEO Mthokozisi Pius Duze, 49, CFO Babongile Mnyandu 43, and Thabiso Khumalo, 35, appeared in court on Tuesday.
In case no 114, Mkhize, Mabaso, Mhlanga and Duze are facing charges of intimidation and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, while in case 115, Duze, Mhlanga, Khumalo and Mnyandu are charged with fraud and corruption.
According to the new bail conditions, travelling restrictions were lifted, arrangements to return passports were discussed, and those required to report to police stations twice a week would no longer do so.
During the proceedings, the State told the court that it required seven months to gather all the evidence, including analysing information and images from two electronic devices.
Prosecutor Reenal Ramouthar said the State received electronic devices which were sent to emergency digital forensics two weeks after the arrests, last Thursday.
“The information or images requires to be analysed. This will include seven additional devices. The volume of the analysis process will require more time,” said Ramouthar.
Magistrate Dawn Somaroo said the previous prosecutor should have prevented and corrected the court when the investigating officer stated that the investigation was 99% complete, while further investigations were required.
Somaroo said: “This is the final adjournment. This court will only grant four months’ adjournment.”
The matter was adjourned to April and all the accused are out on bail.
Daily News