By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has dismissed Bathabile Dlamini’s application for the acquittal of perjury charges.
Dlamini launched an application for discharge after prosecutors closed their case in November.
Magistrate Betty Khumalo said the court could possibly convict the ANC Women’s League president and therefore it would not be in the interest of justice to dismiss the charges against her.
“Having regard to the test to be applied the applicable case law on point and in exercising my discretion I am of the view that there is evidence upon which the accused might reasonably be convicted, therefore the application for a discharge at this stage is refused,” said Khumalo.
The matter relates to repeated extensions of an unlawful tender awarded to Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to distribute the department’s social grants in 2017.
Dlamini, who is 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.
The court was forced to extend the contract with CPS even though it was found to be illegal.
Dlamini pleaded not guilty to the charge on November 24. She said if she gave false evidence under oath, she did so unknowingly.
Her perjury trial continues