Pretoria News

Councillor Mokone hits back at R2m bribery claims

RAPULA MOATSHE rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

TSHWANE councillor for Defenders of the People Sipho Mokone has quashed allegations that he attempted to bribe ActionSA (ASA) chief whip Kgosietsile Kgosiemang with R2 million, in exchange for his vote for former Cope councillor Dr Murunwa Makwarela as mayor.

Last week, Kgosiemang and ASA provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni pressed criminal charges related to bribery allegations at Olievenhoutbosch police station.

But Mokone told the Pretoria News on Monday that the allegations levelled against him were unfounded, saying he was contemplating taking legal action against his accusers.

“I want to sue him (Kgosiemang) for the allegations that he made because I believe this is defamation of character. He is dragging my name in mud,” he said.

He said he was still seeking legal advice on how to approach the matter.

Mokone said it was untrue that he met Kgosiemang at a shisanyama in Centurion and made him an offer to pay his annual salary until the end of his term as a councillor in 2026. It was said that the total amount was equivalent to R2m.

“How possible is it that someone can try to bribe someone with R2m? It is against the policy of our party. I haven’t met the guy in Centurion; I only know him from the council.”

Defenders of the People spokesperson Tukela Zamani said a task team came to the conclusion that the “allegations are unfounded” after hearing Mokone’s side of the story.

METRO

en-za

2023-03-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://pretorianews.pressreader.com/article/281633899480470

African News Agency