Under cross-examination, the department’s head of supply chain management, Thabo Mashile, contradicted the state’s main argument, conceding that for its part, the department was happy with the price paid for the land in question, denying there were any misrepresentations.
Bongo appeared in the Nelspruit commercial crime court on Monday alongside a few other accused, including his brother Sipho Bongo, ex-wife Sandile Nkosi and four companies, for their role in alleged criminality around the purchase of two farms where prices are said to have been inflated.
Blessing Singwane and 16 others, including former State Security Minister and African National Congress (ANC) MP Bongani Bongo, are on trial on charges of an alleged land scam.