Pravin Gordhan responds to claims that he poisoned MP, Bongani Bongo

Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan has responded after former State Security Minister Bongani Bongo, in an interview with eNCA on Thursday 21 November 2019, accused him of having something to do with his poisoning. 

Bongo’s arrest 

As previously reported on by TheSouthAfrican.com, ANC MP Bongani Bongo was arrested and processed on Thursday 21 November 2019, following an operation conducted by the Hawks. The former cabinet minister appeared briefly in court, before slipping out of the back entrance undetected. 

Bongani paid the bail fee, which stands at R5 000 and will be back in court at the end of January 2020. Police and relevant law enforcement teams will spend the next couple of months investigating the defendant and his links to patronage networks.

Bongo says Gordhan may have poisoned him 

In a television interview with eNCA on Thursday Bongo, among other things, suggested that Gordhan may have had something to do with him being ‘poisoned.’

Bongo claimed that he fell ill in an alleged poisoning ordeal shortly after having made contact with Gordhan. 

“When I was in parliament the other day, I met Mr Pravin Gordan who told me I’m working with the EFF and the Public Protector to discredit him and I will see what happens to me. Afterwards the poison came, afterwards, SARS in on my case, afterwards, there are charges that are coming so I view this as a ploy to discredit my integrity and discredit my name,” said Bongo.  

Bongo apparently went to Cuba for treatment for the poisoning. “You know recently I was given a poison so I was going to finalise my treatment in Cuba, so I had to cut my trip very short from Cuba to come and attend to what the police had called me for,” said Bongo.

I was not arrested, I didn’t bribe anyone

“I was not arrested. The police called me when I was in Cuba to say that I must come back because there was a case that I must appear on,” Bongo claimed. 

Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi and the NPA have also been clear that Bongo was arrested on bribery charges after allegedly trying to derail a parliamentary inquiry into alleged state capture at Eskom. 

During the eNCA interview, Bongo denied that he ever attempted to bribe an advocate. He accused Gordhan of being part of a “plot” against him and secretary-general of the ANC, Ace Magashule.

As if that wasn’t enough to leave South African’s shocked, Bongo also said that he was told that Magashule would be among those arrested in connection with the same anti-corruption sweep by the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority. 

Gordhan replies to poisoning claims 

Gordhan’s spokesperson, Sam Mkokeli told eNCA Bongo’s allegations were ridiculous and foolish. 

“Mr Bongo must be hallucinating. The minister feels that he should look in the mirror, his statement is just nonsensical,” said Mkokeli.  

“It’s just a crazy allegation and Mr Gordhan does not have time for these silly games,” he added. 

Bongo’s case will next be heard on January 31, 2020.