| The Court of Appeal has referred back the corruption case involving former Minister Temeki Tšolo, overturning a High Court decision that had granted a permanent stay of prosecution.
The court reversed Judge Tšeliso Mokoko’s ruling, which had halted the case on the grounds that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) had repeatedly failed to prosecute it.
The Court of Appeal has further ordered that the matter be assigned to a different judge.
Tšolo is charged alongside Robert Fraser and Fraser Solar GMBH. The trio faces multiple charges, including fraud, forgery, obstruction of justice, and contravention of superior orders.
It is alleged that in 2018, while serving as a minister under then Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane’s administration, Tšolo signed a “deal” on behalf of the government without Cabinet approval with the German-based Fraser Solar GMBH.
The agreement reportedly involved the supply of energy-saving equipment, including 350,000 solar lanterns, 40,000 solar water heating (SWH) units to replace electric geysers, and 1.5 million LED lights.
Summary
- | The Court of Appeal has referred back the corruption case involving former Minister Temeki Tšolo, overturning a High Court decision that had granted a permanent stay of prosecution.
- The court reversed Judge Tšeliso Mokoko’s ruling, which had halted the case on the grounds that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) had repeatedly failed to prosecute it.
- It is alleged that in 2018, while serving as a minister under then Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane’s administration, Tšolo signed a “deal” on behalf of the government without Cabinet approval with the German-based Fraser Solar GMBH.
Thoboloko Ntšonyane is a dedicated journalist who has contributed to various publications. He reports on accountability, human rights, exposes corruption and wrong doing by those in power. He reports have exposed corruption, abuse of power, fraud, misconduct and negligence. He subscribes to evidence-based reporting. He reports on governance, parliament, courts, climate change, human rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), health, business and agriculture. He gives a voice to the marginalised while also demanding accountability. His work inspires change, triggers dialogue and also promote transparency in a society.
