Court dismisses Bathabile Dlamini’s bid to fend off perjury charge
17 December 2021 - 13:47
bylavan Pijoos
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini in court. Picture: ALAISTER RUSSELL/TIMESLIVE
The Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Friday dismissed former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini’s application to have her perjury case discharged.
This after her attorney, Tshepiso Mphahlane, made an application on November 26 for his client to be acquitted of the alleged crime, saying the state’s evidence was poor and could not be relied upon.
The matter relates to repeated extensions of an unlawful tender awarded to Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to distribute the department’s social grants in 2017.
Dlamini, who is president of the ANC Women’s League, allegedly gave false evidence under oath at an inquiry instituted by the Constitutional Court in 2018 into the payments fiasco at the SA Social Security Agency.
The court was forced to extend the contract with CPS even though it was found to be illegal.
Dlamini pleaded not guilty to the charge on November 24. She said if she gave false evidence under oath, she did so unknowingly.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Court dismisses Bathabile Dlamini’s bid to fend off perjury charge
The Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Friday dismissed former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini’s application to have her perjury case discharged.
This after her attorney, Tshepiso Mphahlane, made an application on November 26 for his client to be acquitted of the alleged crime, saying the state’s evidence was poor and could not be relied upon.
The matter relates to repeated extensions of an unlawful tender awarded to Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to distribute the department’s social grants in 2017.
Dlamini, who is president of the ANC Women’s League, allegedly gave false evidence under oath at an inquiry instituted by the Constitutional Court in 2018 into the payments fiasco at the SA Social Security Agency.
The court was forced to extend the contract with CPS even though it was found to be illegal.
Dlamini pleaded not guilty to the charge on November 24. She said if she gave false evidence under oath, she did so unknowingly.
TimesLIVE
LETTER: The trial circus starts again
Bathabile Dlamini’s perjury trial hits a snag on the first day
POLITICAL WEEK AHEAD: Election campaigning kicks into high gear
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Bathabile Dlamini perjury case postponed to October
Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini to be prosecuted for ...
Bathabile Dlamini coughs up R650,000 personal costs order in Sassa debacle
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.