Case of former NYDA head postponed for a plea bargain

16 February 2016 - 16:45 By S’Duduzo Dludla

Former National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) head Andile Lungisa and his three co-accused have had their case postponed again to allow their plea bargain application to be considered by the state. Lungisa‚ his wife Ursula Sali as well as business associates Thabo Shogole and Xolisile Guqaza appeared on Tuesday in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court‚ where their matter was postponed to next month‚ March 16.The four are facing charges of fraud relating to the R Kelly concert that never happened.Defence lawyer Mthetheleli Lindwa told the court that the plea agreement will be completed on March 10 and submitted to the state prosecutor Ronel Dookun to consider.Lungisa and his co-accused allegedly defrauded the Department of Arts and Culture of R2.5-million in 2013 by claiming fees for the appearance of American R&B artist R Kelly at the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day concert at the FNB stadium. The singer‚ who was in South Africa on tour at the time‚ was unaware of the alleged appearance and left the country without performing at the concert.The case has been dragging on for more than two years as the accused had previously made representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)‚ asking him to withdraw the charges against them. They had claimed the case against them had no merit. Lungisa and his co-accused are all out on bail...

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