DPP withdraws charges after rejecting representations

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The Director of Public Prosecutions in Free State has withdrawn charges against accused after rejecting their presentations twice.

Exactly a year ago, Advocate Navilla Somaru, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) replied to our inquiry in the representations made Lebo Sebeela, former SCM Director and Advocate Humphrey Malakoane, head of department at Free State Education following their arrest in the Winnie Mandela Museum project in September 2022.

At the time, they were accused of allegedly squandering and stealing over R700 000 meant to build the Winnie Mandela Museum in Brandfort, between 2008 and 2012 while at Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation.

The duo’s representations followed that of another accused, Monyane Sefantse after charges against him were withdrawn.

The DPP has twice rejected the representations made by Sebeela and Malakoane as she believed she had a strong case.

“We can also assure you as the prosecution we are confident of presenting a formidable case against all accused during trial in order to sustain charges preferred against them.”

However, the case didn’t even get to trial as charges were withdrawn few months later.

It’s not clear how different were representations that DPP considered from the two rejected representations.

Sebeela and Malakoane were represented Peyper Attorneys in their case.

Peyper had asked NDPP to intervene and the matter was referred to the province.

Did the Acting NPA boss take decisions above his pay grade?

Sebeela and Malakoane also worked in the now halted National Training Centre (NTC) projected after R54 million was splashed.

Malakoane and his wife are not only working for DoE and Legislature full time, they are also entrepreneurs as they run a student accommodation business and are also into farming.

They have recently added a new business in their portfolio.

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