Delays in corruption case taking emotional & financial toll on Pule Mabe, says lawyer

JOHANNESBURG - The ongoing corruption case involving former African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson, Pule Mabe, has taken an emotional and financial toll on him.

On Tuesday, Mabe, along with his wife and five co-accused, appeared at the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge.

They are all charged with multiple counts of fraud, money laundering and contraventions of the Public Management Finance Act.

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The charges stem from an irregular R27 million tender awarded to Mabe's Enviro Mobi company to supply 200 three-wheeler motorbikes to waste pickers in the Ekurhuleni area.

Since being formally charged last year, Mabe has stepped down from his role as a member of the ANC's national executive committee.

In court papers, Mabe said that his only income was R25,000 a month from a small business.

His lawyer, Zola Majavu, said that Mabe was frustrated with the delays and wanted to go to trial in order to clear his name.

"Everytime I come to court, my services don’t come cheap. There is emotional trauma my clients are subjected to. Whether they will be found guilty or not guilty, we need to get going, but unfortunately they (prosecution) asked for an opportunity to amend the charge sheet and we agreed they have until the 7th of July to do so."

In November last year, the State was granted a preservation order freezing Mabe's assets, which included a house at the luxury estate of Steyn City and a Porsche Carrera GTS.