Former minister arrested on corruption charge

A senior lawmaker for the ANC was arrested on Thursday on a corruption charge and released on bail after a court appearance, police said.

Bongani Bongo, a former state security minister under former president Jacob Zuma, is accused of interfering with an inquiry into corruption at state power utility Eskom, police spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi told Reuters.

Bongo allegedly asked the inquiry’s evidence leader to go on sick leave in 2017 to frustrate its progress, Mulaudzi said.

Bongo, who was not immediately available for comment, chairs parliament’s portfolio committee on home affairs.

He appeared in court in Cape Town and was released on bail of R5 000 Mulaudzi said, adding Bongo was due back in court on January 31.