The corruption and money-laundering case against former MEC for social development Neo Moerane for her alleged role in the Max Mamase land deal scam, faces being scuppered as well.
Moerane and her ex-husband Mamase – the MEC for agriculture at the time – were originally charged after he pushed a dodgy R15.6-million Kangela deal through the agriculture department to purchase land in the Addo district from deceased Cape Town businessman Norman Benjamin.
The state alleges they received payments totalling R360000 from Benjamin and his associate Emiliya Peneva towards the purchase of a R2.7-million house in Nahoon.
Yesterday, the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court postponed Moerane’s case to March 13 for the deputy director of public prosecutions to make a decision on representations by her attorney, Mathew Moodley.
The court has also heard that prosecutors are struggling to trace Peneva, regarded as a key witness in the case against Moerane. Peneva reportedly emigrated to Australia a few years ago and has been incommunicado since last year.
Mamase faced charges of corruption, fraud, money-laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act for his role in setting up the scam with Benjamin.
The case against him folded after a panel of three medical professionals from Fort England hospital in Grahamstown found his mental state after a series of strokes made him incapable of standing trial.
He has been registered as an involuntary mental health out-patient at Cecilia Makiwane hospital, with a magistrate finding late last year that he had probably committed the acts for which he was charged.
Moerane, 53, allegedly was assisted by Benjamin and Peneva, directors of Quickvest 54 (Pty) Ltd, to buy the Nahoon house. The house was registered in the name of Quickvest and Mamase and Moerane later allegedly became the sole shareholders and directors of the company. Moerane has also been charged as a representative of the company.
The state alleges that in order to conceal Benjamin and Peneva’s involvement in the purchase of and payments towards the house, a lease agreement was drawn up with a shelf company as a front renting the property from Quickvest.
Moerane is alleged to have received R360000 in payments from Benjamin or Peneva for the house.
With Mamase off the hook and Moerane’s case postponed for a final time, the 10-year saga may be reaching the end of the road.
The list of witnesses whose presence in court will not be needed, include former premier Makhenkesi Stofile and former finance MEC Enoch Godongwana. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
Moerane corruption case postponed
Moerane and her ex-husband Mamase – the MEC for agriculture at the time – were originally charged after he pushed a dodgy R15.6-million Kangela deal through the agriculture department to purchase land in the Addo district from deceased Cape Town businessman Norman Benjamin.
The state alleges they received payments totalling R360000 from Benjamin and his associate Emiliya Peneva towards the purchase of a R2.7-million house in Nahoon.
Yesterday, the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court postponed Moerane’s case to March 13 for the deputy director of public prosecutions to make a decision on representations by her attorney, Mathew Moodley.
The court has also heard that prosecutors are struggling to trace Peneva, regarded as a key witness in the case against Moerane. Peneva reportedly emigrated to Australia a few years ago and has been incommunicado since last year.
Mamase faced charges of corruption, fraud, money-laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act for his role in setting up the scam with Benjamin.
The case against him folded after a panel of three medical professionals from Fort England hospital in Grahamstown found his mental state after a series of strokes made him incapable of standing trial.
He has been registered as an involuntary mental health out-patient at Cecilia Makiwane hospital, with a magistrate finding late last year that he had probably committed the acts for which he was charged.
Moerane, 53, allegedly was assisted by Benjamin and Peneva, directors of Quickvest 54 (Pty) Ltd, to buy the Nahoon house. The house was registered in the name of Quickvest and Mamase and Moerane later allegedly became the sole shareholders and directors of the company. Moerane has also been charged as a representative of the company.
The state alleges that in order to conceal Benjamin and Peneva’s involvement in the purchase of and payments towards the house, a lease agreement was drawn up with a shelf company as a front renting the property from Quickvest.
Moerane is alleged to have received R360000 in payments from Benjamin or Peneva for the house.
With Mamase off the hook and Moerane’s case postponed for a final time, the 10-year saga may be reaching the end of the road.
The list of witnesses whose presence in court will not be needed, include former premier Makhenkesi Stofile and former finance MEC Enoch Godongwana. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
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