The two senior ANC councillors who were released on bail last week after they were arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from a Witbank businessman for them to extend his lease with the municipality allegedly violated their bail conditions.
According to media reports and versions of municipal staff, Jerry Patrick Dijane (53) and Martha Busi Hlumbane (54) attempted to attend a council sitting in the municipal chambers in Witbank earlier today, 29 April 2025.
This is despite that the Emalahleni magistrate court ruled that they should not set their feet in the offices of the Emalahleni local municipality in Mpumalanga province, where they served as MMCs (members of the mayoral committee) until Mayor Vusi Nhlapho fired them last.
Local media outlets reported that Dijane and Hlumbane showed up today to take part in a council sitting. At first they were allowed in, but the EFF and the DA vehemently objected to their presence, saying they are violating their bail conditions and should not be allowed in.
After a heated debate, and false claims that the investigating officer granted them permission, the Speaker Mduduzi Nkosi and Nhlapho told them to leave the chambers and the council sitting proceeded without them.
Dijane and Hlumbane are each out on R10 000 bail which was granted to them last week. They are facing charges of corruption, defeating the administration of justice, and extortion.
They were granted bail and given strict conditions. Some of the conditions include that they should not contact the witnesses in the case and they should not enter the municipal premises of their employer.
The duo were arrested at Witbank dam by the Middelburg-based Serious Corruption Unit, after allegedly receiving R20 000 bribes that were part of an alleged R500 000 bribery money demanded from a businessman.
According to the police, the R20 000 paid on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, followed a R40,000 payment in February 2025 and was equally shared between the suspects. The R20,000 that was paid on Wednesday was recovered. Two luxury vehicles used during the commission of the crime were seized and may be forfeited to the state at a later stage.
