By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini appeared at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Photo Credit:Veli Nhlapo.
Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini has pleaded not guilty to a charge of perjury against her.
Clad in a black suit, Dlamini was accompanied by a handful of supporters wearing ANC regalia. She took the stand in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday when her trial started.
Dlamini, who also serves as president of the ANC Women’s League, allegedly gave false evidence under oath at an inquiry instituted by the Constitutional Court in 2018 into the payments fiasco at the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), a claim she denied while entering her plea.
In her plea explanation, Dlamini denies intentionally lying and giving false evidence at the inquiry.
She said if she gave false evidence, then she did so unknowingly.
The inquiry was held to establish whether Dlamini should be held personally liable for the costs of the debacle.
The inquiry, chaired by judge Bernard Ngoepe, found Dlamini concealed the extent of her involvement in the debacle and she was ordered to pay personal costs of about R650,000, which she settled in May.
The ConCourt ordered Ngoepe’s report to be forwarded to the national director of public prosecutions to consider whether Dlamini had lied under oath and should be prosecuted for perjury.
In September this year, the Gauteng director of public prosecutions, advocate Andrew Chauke, decided to prosecute.
Dlamini subsequently made her first appearance on September 21 and the matter was postponed to October 1 for disclosure of the contents of the docket to her legal team.
The trial has been postponed to Thursday.