Durban — A traffic officer facing 48 counts of corruption for accepting benefits from different people appeared at the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday.
Xolani Patric Simelane received more than R50 000 from different people between 2012 and 2013 at Abaqulusi Municipality in Vryheid.
It is alleged that the accused directly or indirectly accepted monies from 47 people for his benefit, or that of the other person.
On Tuesday, Judge Garth Davis adjourned the matter to Wednesday, as Simelane appeared in court without a legal representative.
Speaking in the dock, Simelane said he had no lawyer, due to his money being invested.
He further stated that he had made arrangements for the money to be released earlier than expected, however, it was delayed.
Davis said the accused’s continuous appearance without a lawyer was wasting the court’s time.
“The last time you were here you told the court a similar story. Your attorney also mentioned you had not paid him then. The court has given you more than 20 chances, yet you keep showing up without a lawyer, while you say you have money. I’ll give you today (on Tuesday) to be present with a representative tomorrow (Wednesday),” said Davis.
According to the charge sheet, Simelane acted in a manner that amounted to an illegal, dishonest, unauthorised, incomplete and biased manner for his personal benefit by influencing another person to act.
“This amounts to the abuse of a position of authority, a breach of trust, or the violation of a legal duty or a set of rules designed to achieve an unjustified result, that amounts to any other unauthorised or improper inducement to do or not to do anything,” reads the charge sheet.
Simelane faces offences of corrupt activities relating to public officers and corrupt activities.
He was charged under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Daily News