The sentencing of a well known Port Elizabeth church leader convicted of corruption charges involving R3 million was halted in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
Bishop Samuel Banzana was earlier found guilty of soliciting bribes from a construction company to award it tenders for building hundreds of low-cost RDP houses.
Defence Advocate Tom Langenhoven argued on Tuesday that Banzana was the primary caregiver to one of his two children, a minor.
Lagenhoven asked the court for time so that a probation officer could conduct an investigation and compile a report on the contributions made in Bazana’s household.
State Prosecutor Ronelle Brink argued that the minor child had multiple caregivers and that it did not make a difference if Banzana fell away as one of them.
Banzana was found guilty earlier in March on four counts of corruption involving around R3 million.
At the time of the crimes, between 2004 and 2009, Banzana was the manager of the Mzingisi Development Trust, which African National Congress (ANC) veteran Govan Mbeki had founded. The trust builds RDP houses in impoverished areas which included Soweto on Sea, Veeplaas, Westview and Bethelsdorp.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit had since seized Banzana’s home and three luxury cars worth R2.9 million in total. A remaining loss of R378,000 has yet to be recovered. The retired Bishop now resides with his in-laws.
The case was postponed until September 14 for the probation officer’s report.
– African News Agency (ANA)
