ANC councillor found guilty of fraud and money Laundering

AN ANC Nelson Mandela Bay councillor was found guilty of fraud and money laundering.

Bongo Nombiba (41) appeared in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Friday.

He was bust by the Hawks in 2016 for defrauding the municipality of R20 000, which was meant for the Thulamangwane Community Project, an NGO which cares for the elderly.

He was charged with fraud, two counts of corruption and money laundering.

He was acquitted of the two charges of corruption.

The NGO’s secretary Zukiswa Mbhem and deputy chairwoman Mandisa Monco approached Nombiba to request a donation of R10 000 from the municipality in 2014.

The councillor instructed them to put their request in writing but not to mention the amount they had requested.

Nombiba then motivated for R30 000 which was paid into the NGO’s Standard Bank account on 4 November 2014.

Two days later, the request was approved and Nombiba convinced them that R20 000 from the R30 000 was his.

Handing down judgment, Magistrate Johannes Claasen said: “During the cross examination, Nombiba was evasive when he was asked to explain his side of the story. The testimony of the State’s witnesses was reliable and consistent.”

Classen postponed the case to 26 April for sentencing.