KEY POINTS
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Two Mpumalanga councillors were granted bail after being arrested for bribery.
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The councillors allegedly received R20,000 as part of a larger R500,000 bribery scheme.
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The Hawks seized vehicles and cash, and the investigation into the case continues.
Authorities arrested two high-ranking councillors from Emalahleni Local Municipality in Mpumalanga for allegedly accepting a bribe in a R500,000 corruption case.
The court granted bail to Martha Busi Hlumbani, 55, and Patrick Jerry Dijane, 54, under strict conditions. They cannot enter municipality premises or leave the district without informing the investigating officer.
Investigators arrested the councillors on Wednesday, April 16, after they allegedly took bribes to secure an extension of a lease agreement.
The alleged bribery and the investigation
The councillors allegedly received R20,000 from a businessperson as part of a larger R500,000 demand, according to Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
The purpose of this payment was to facilitate the extension of a lease agreement. In February 2025, Hlumbani and Dijane equally shared a second payment of R40,000. The investigation into the broader R500,000 bribery scheme is still ongoing.
Property seized, and the corruption fight continues
The Hawks recovered the R20,000 cash payment after their arrest and seized two luxury vehicles used in the crime.
Major General Nico Gerber, Provincial Head of the Hawks, strongly condemned the councillors’ actions, emphasising that corruption would not be tolerated, regardless of a person’s position, IOL reported.
He said that those in power shouldn’t profit at the community’s expense and vowed to fight all forms of corruption. We expect Hlumbani and Dijane to appear in court again on June 4, 2025.
