The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn a charge of corruption against Reverend Josias Mabaso‚ accused of bribery and misusing education subsidies‚ following a psychiatric report that deemed him “unfit to stand trial”.
Mabaso‚ who is in his late 70s‚ appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on Monday where he was standing trial for bribery and corruption. Mabaso is also alleged to have misused education subsidies awarded to two schools in Gauteng.
“We are disappointed that the law will not take its course‚ but respect that the court cannot ignore the medical recommendations regarding Mabaso’s fitness to stand trial. The victims in this case are the hundreds of learners that were denied the right to receive quality education‚ despite their school being subsidised by the department of education. It is a disgrace‚” Lead SA said in a statement.
Mabaso was arrested in a sting operation carried out by the Hawks in 2011 when he allegedly tried to bribe Lead SA’s Yusuf Abramjee‚ with R1.2-million to keep the lid on the alleged corruption. The Hawks seized R50‚000 in cash that Mabaso offered Abramjee as a first instalment.
“We call on the education department to continue conducting audits of schools and in particular the administration of subsidies. We need to send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated in our education system. We in turn urge the public to continue blowing the whistle if they are aware of corruption at schools‚” Lead SA concluded.
Case withdrawn against pastor accused of corruption
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn a charge of corruption against Reverend Josias Mabaso‚ accused of bribery and misusing education subsidies‚ following a psychiatric report that deemed him “unfit to stand trial”.
Mabaso‚ who is in his late 70s‚ appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on Monday where he was standing trial for bribery and corruption. Mabaso is also alleged to have misused education subsidies awarded to two schools in Gauteng.
“We are disappointed that the law will not take its course‚ but respect that the court cannot ignore the medical recommendations regarding Mabaso’s fitness to stand trial. The victims in this case are the hundreds of learners that were denied the right to receive quality education‚ despite their school being subsidised by the department of education. It is a disgrace‚” Lead SA said in a statement.
Mabaso was arrested in a sting operation carried out by the Hawks in 2011 when he allegedly tried to bribe Lead SA’s Yusuf Abramjee‚ with R1.2-million to keep the lid on the alleged corruption. The Hawks seized R50‚000 in cash that Mabaso offered Abramjee as a first instalment.
“We call on the education department to continue conducting audits of schools and in particular the administration of subsidies. We need to send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated in our education system. We in turn urge the public to continue blowing the whistle if they are aware of corruption at schools‚” Lead SA concluded.
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