BY ERIC MATOME KGOMO
BUSHBUCKRIDGE: A prominent court interpreter, attached to Mkhulu Magistrate’s Court has briefly appeared before the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on alleged corruption charges.
Busisizwe Zizwe Zitha (40), appeared before the court on Monday 19 April 2020 and was remanded in custody. He appeared again on Thursday 22 April and was granted a R6000-00 bail.
The interpreter was arrested by the members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Mpumalanga on 16 April 2021, after soliciting money from a suspect who was granted bail by the court for assault and violation of protection order.
“The arrest followed a complaint from the victim who alleged that between January and March 2021, he was approached by the accused after he was released on bail for two cases of violation of a protection order and assault (Domestic Violence related cases) demanding cash, claiming that he will withdraw his two cases. The victim alleged that he paid the money as demanded but the cases were not withdrawn,” said Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, Mpumalanga Provincial Hawks Spokesperson.
Sekgotodi said the victim further alleged that the accused continued with his tricks by telling him different stories on different occasions to pay the money, informing him that cash will be for the prosecutor, petrol and the stealing of the two case dockets.
“After the matter was reported to the Hawks, they followed up information and the investigation led to the case docket being opened. Warrant of arrest was granted and executed,” she said.
Sekgotodi added that on Friday 16 April 2021, before the official was arrested, a second victim came to court to report that the same interpreter demanded money from her in order to have her case withdrawn which never happened despite the payment.
She said Zitha will appear at the Nelspruit Commercial Crime Court on 6 August 2021.
“The accused was released with conditions that he should not interfere or threaten the victims,” she said.
Sekgotodi said the Hawks in Mpumalanga are still appealing to all victims who paid the money to the suspect for the withdrawal of their cases to come forth and report the matter by contacting the investigating officer, Captain Luzile Ndlovu on 071 481 2819
