Issued by: North West Communication Service
Date: Thursday September 5 1996
The former President of the defunct Bophuthatswana homeland, Mr Lucas Mangope, was today (Thursday) served with a summons to appear in the Mmabatho Supreme Court on charges of misappropriation of funds and property estimated at R18 million.
This follows recommendations by the Skweyiya Commission set up by the provincial government in 1994 to investigate the embezzlement of public funds by former homeland officials.
The amount includes funds, materials and labour misappropriated from Bophuthatswana for effecting improvements in respect of Mangope's residence in Motswedi - R4 442 886,40, Motswedi Dairy - R79 320,25, Moeng smallholdings - R51 050,42 and Alwynspoort Farm - R2 511 978,65. Mangope is also charged with authorisation of funds in excess of R10,4 million to his party, the UCDP.
Other defendants are the former ruling Bophuthatswana Christian Democratic Party, Q-Projects (Pty) Ltd, a company duly incorporated and registered as such in the former homeland, the Director of the company David Immelman and Jerry Reid, former Director General of the Information Service of Bophuthatswana.
The plaintiffs are the Government of the North West province, the Premier of the North West, Mr Popo Molefe, and the Chairperson of the Bahurutshe-Boo-Manyane Tribal Authority.
This exercise is undertaken in the interest of clean governance, contrary to public perception that the State was wastin taxpayers' money.
The case is expected to draw large crowds when the trial starts early next year (1997).
Contact: Willy Modise Tel. (082 5584 087)