Alleged fraudster freed, for now

SBUSISO Mabuza, the man arrested after he allegedly tried to extort money from Mbombela mayor Lassy Chiwayo on claims that a top ANC official was trying to frame him, is free for now.

Prosecutor Brian Mogale of the Nelspruit magistrate's court on Friday provisionally withdrew perjury charges against Mabuza due to a lack of evidence.

Mabuza was arrested last month after he reportedly arranged to meet Chiwayo, under the false name of Moses Sithole. He demanded a bribe in exchange for information about an unnamed Mpumalanga politician who accused Chiwayo and the chairperson of the select committee on public accounts, Fish Mahlalela and ANC national treasurer Mathews Phosa of being behind the violent service delivery protests.

Chiwayo then engaged the Hawks and crime intelligence to listen to Mabuza's story.

But police later established that the man was the same one who had earlier come to the police station and made a sworn statement claiming that he was being paid by Chiwayo, Phosa and Mahlalela to instigate the violent service delivery protests.