Mabe defends his wife, says corruption charges against her unfounded and misdirected

JOHANNESBURG - Former African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson Pule Mabe has come to his wife’s defence, stating that the corruption charges against her were unfounded and misdirected.

Mabe, his partner, and five co-accused appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing fraud and money laundering charges.

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The charges relate to a R27 million tender awarded to Mabe’s company by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture in 2017, during his time as a member of Parliament (MP).

The State claims the company did not disclose its connection to the former ANC spokesperson when submitting its bid for the tender.

The State’s indictment shows that Mabe’s wife, Mmathlekelo, was a director of Enviro Mobi, which secured a R27 million tender to provide the City of Ekurhuleni with 200 tuk-tuks.

It also indicates that after the tender was awarded, payments were made from the company’s bank accounts into various accounts, including one belonging to Mmathlekelo.

Despite the State's allegations, Mabe asserted that there was no case against his wife.

"We are being told today that it constitutes a crime to give our wives monies earned legitimately in business dealings. So, we will hear how that becomes a crime."

Presiding Magistrate Soko Rantua informed the State during proceedings that it had not linked some of the accused to the offences they were facing in its affidavit.