Bongani Bongo

Bongani Thomas Bongo (wey dem born insyd 29 June 1978) be South African politician plus former Minister of State Security, position wey he get appointment to insyd 17 October 2017 by President Jacob Zuma, till President Cyril Ramaphosa relieve am from dat role insyd 28 February 2018. He be de only appointment wey no get cabinet minister experience before. He serve as President of University of Limpopo ein Alumni plus Convocation Association between 2016 plus 2022, den later take position as emiratus president afta dat. As Minister of State Security, Bongo dey lead de State Security Agency of South Africa.

Bongo, wey be lawyer plus ANC politician from Mpumalanga, get election into de National Assembly insyd de May 2014 national elections. He actively participate insyd several parliamentary committees, like de Constitutional Review Committee wey dey look into possible amendments to Section 25 of South African Constitution. He sana play role insyd de ad hoc committees wey dem task plus amending Section 25 plus selecting Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Public Protector.

Insyd 2 July 2019, Bongo get election as chairperson for Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, wey he secure despite opposition from political rivals. Ein nomination, wey ANC MP Musa Chabangu put forward plus Tidimalo Legwase second am, finally win against de DA ein proposed candidate, Angel Khanyile.

Bongo ein time as chairperson end insyd August 2021 when African National Congress make changes to demma parliamentary leadership. Ein removal be part of broader restructuring wey dey happen insyd de party, wey reflect internal political dynamics. As known ally to former president Jacob Zuma, some people see Bongo ein departure as something wey link to de ongoing reconfiguration of power insyd ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

 Early life 
Dem born Bongo on 29 June 1978 insyd Dennilton, one town wey now dey part of Limpopo ein Sekhukhune District Municipality wey near de provincial border plus Mpumalanga. He finish secondary school insyd Kgothala Secondary School. He be de third pikin among five children wey Thomas Bongo plus Emily Makhanya born. Insyd 1999, ein family move permanently go de township of Siyabuswa, wey dey insyd Mpumalanga ein Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality, while he dey pursue ein law degree insyd University of Limpopo.

During ein university time, Bongo dey active insyd student politics. He join de South African Student Congress (SASCO) plus serve as president for Students' Representative Council (SRC) from 2001 go 2002. Ein political activity no stop afta university; he get election as chairperson of African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) for Dennilton, wey he serve from 2003 go 2004. He later move go de Nkangala region ANCYL executive plus finally enter de provincial executive of ANCYL insyd Mpumalanga.

 2017 Zimbabwean coup 
Insyd 15 November 2017, Bongo plus South African defense minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula arrive for Harare as President Jacob Zuma ein special envoys to Zimbabwe ein 2017 coup wey remove Robert Mugabe.

Zuma send dem as chairperson of Southern African Development Community (SADC), make dem hold talks between Mugabe plus generals from Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) wey finally take power from Mugabe ein almost four-decade rule.

When dem reach Harare International Airport, dem no allow dem leave de airport till evening time, when dem fit move go hotel. Insyd Thursday, 16 November, Mugabe dey Harare State House to take part insyd talks plus General Constantino Chiwenga, Bongo plus Mapisa-Nqakula about transition of power.

Later on, Bongo plus Mapisa-Nqakula meet Angolan president João Lourenço, wey be chairperson of SADC ein Organ on Politics, Defence plus Security, to brief am about de Zimbabwe matter.SA special envoys to begin talks to end Zim political crisis, EWN, 15 November 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2020Zuma to visit Zimbabwe on Wednesday, Rise FM, 22 May 2020

 Parliament's Section 25 Committee 
Bongo play leadership role insyd Parliament ein ad hoc committee wey dem set up insyd July 2019 to amend Section 25 of South African Constitution. De committee, wey dem formally call Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate plus Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 of de Constitution, get task to make de constitutional framework clear for land expropriation without compensation as one legit option for land reform.

De committee wey get 24 members elect Mathole Motshekga as chairperson. But during de public hearings wey dem do nationwide between February plus March 2020, de committee split into two groups to fast-track de process — one under Bongo plus de other under Motshekga.

De setup of de committee come from one 2018 report wey Constitutional Review Committee publish, wey recommend make dem amend Section 25 to spell out wetin people already dey see as implicit when e come to land expropriation without compensation. De proposal aim to address de historical land dispossession plus make sure say South Africans get fair access to land. Still, de recommendation meet opposition, as Democratic Alliance (DA) talk say e be "complete farce".

De ad hoc committee later carry out public hearings across de country, talk plus citizens about how de legislation go dey worded to make land expropriation without compensation possible.

 Criminal accusations 
Bongani Bongo face accusation say he try bribe Ntuthuzelo Vanara, wey be evidence leader insyd Parliament ein inquiry wey dey look into state capture matter insyd Eskom. For one affidavit wey Vanara give Speaker Baleka Mbete, he claim say Bongo approach am on behalf of acting Eskom board chairperson Zethembe Khoza plus offer wetin Vanara describe as “a blank cheque” to stop de committee ein investigation. Mbete refer dis matter go Parliament ein joint ethics committee for further scrutiny.

Afta dis allegations, Bongo get arrest for Cape Town insyd 21 November 2019 plus dem charge am plus corruption. But insyd 26 February 2021, Judge John Hlophe from Western Cape High Court dismiss de case afta Bongo ein legal team win one section 174 application. Dis provision wey dey South African law make e possible to withdraw charges if de court believe say de state no present enough evidence wey fit lead to conviction. De ruling clear Bongo from any wrongdoing for dis matter.

Bongo sana get link to anoda Hawks investigation about alleged irregular land transactions during de time wey he dey serve as legal adviser insyd Mpumalanga human settlements department. He plus several government officials, one lawyer plus some businessmen get arrest for Nelspruit den face more than 60 counts of fraud plus corruption. Some of de people wey dem mention include senior government official David Dube plus Bongo ein younger brother Joel Bongo, wey people accuse say he collect two luxury vehicles from businessmen wey dey involve insyd government land deals.

Despite de initial number of charges, Bongo finally face only three counts of fraud plus corruption. Insyd June 2023, at de start of de trial, de state drop two of de charges based on lack of evidence wey link am to de alleged offenses. On dat same day, dem withdraw all charges wey dem put against ein brother Joel. By May 2024, Bongo plus four co-accused get full acquittal on all remaining charges.

Insyd 2025, Bongo file R38.2 million civil claim against de state, talk say ein arrest be wrongful, plus e cause am emotional trauma, reputational damage plus income loss. De lawsuit dey relate to ein 2019 arrest insyd de bribery case, wey first get dismissal insyd 2021 but come get reinstatement again insyd February 2025. Bongo describe de matter as political witch hunt wey target am to spoil ein name further.NPA says it has strong case against Bongani Bongo, SABC News, 4 February 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025

 References 
Category:Living people

 External links 
Interview: Bongani Bongo is off the hook Youtube
- Bongani Thomas Bongo, Adv
Bongani Thomas Bongo at People's Assembly

Category:Human
Category:1978 births
Category:South African people
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Corruption insyd South Africa
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
Category:21st-century South African politicians
Category:University of Limpopo alumni