Former City of Johannesburg Housing MMC and the African National Congress regional deputy secretary, Dan Bovu, appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on fraud and theft charges.
ANC Joburg spokesperson, Jolidee Matongo, confirmed that Bovu is out on R5 000 bail and will again appear in court on 2 February.
Bovu and a co-accomplice are accused of illegally selling a City-owned property in Vlakfontein, south of Johannesburg over 11 years ago.
Joburg’s Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said the pair handed themselves over to the police in Lenasia hours before they appeared in court on 17 January.
Matongo said the party was informed of the case, opened in 2009, about a week before Bovu’s court appearance.
“The allegation is that a member of the public paid money into the [Thembelihle] Trust [of which Bovu was a member] account and in return expected the trust to build a house for him and this never materialised,” he said.
Matongo said the prosecution authority decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. He added that since Mashaba started to push for Bovu’s prosecution, the matter has again resurfaced.
But Matongo said the ANC believes that, like all South Africans, Bovu is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. Bovu has also since taken a step back from both political and local government activities while the matter is before the court.
Mashaba has, however, elaborated on the case. He said it is alleged that the two complainants had bought the same stand from the trust after paying a deposit.
Mashaba said a motion was tabled before council in September last year by the coalition government.
“The motion authorised me to petition the NPA to provide reasons for why the case had been declined for prosecution, despite what appeared to be a case with strong evidence.
“To the credit of the NPA, they have engaged with the call of our council and acted to ensure that councillor Bovu has his day in court.”
Matongo added that the ANC regional executive committee will have an urgent meeting to decide the way forward.
“We assure the people of Johannesburg that the ANC will act without fear or favour in dealing with members and leaders found to have been involved in fraud and corruption.”
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