WATCH |KZN Correctional Services boss Nxele lived beyond his means, court hears

Suspended KwaZulu-Natal Correctional Services regional commissioner Mnikelwa Nxele allegedly failed to declare R11,3 million in income while accumulating properties worth about R4 million, with the state arguing that this showed he had been living beyond his means.

Nxele, the latest senior civil servant to be arrested in the government’s anti-corruption crackdown, was released on R50 000 bail in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

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He faces fraud and money laundering charges linked to millions of rands that allegedly moved through his bank accounts over more than a decade.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac), Nxele held several bank accounts with Absa, FNB and Nedbank.

Idac alleges that after certain individuals deposited money into Nxele’s bank accounts, he transferred the funds to various other accounts.

State prosecutor Peter Serunye said the income generated by Nxele, coupled with the properties he acquired over the years, showed that the suspended Correctional Services head “was living beyond his means”.

Serunye told the court that Nxele had failed to disclose income amounting to R11,3 million and properties jointly valued at about R4 million.

The state, Serunye said, would prove that through his actions Nxele “caused prejudice to the state”.

However, through his lawyer, advocate Kwazi Mshengu, Nxele told the court that he had no previous convictions and had not contravened any laws.

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“I shall plead not guilty to all the charges against me,” he said.

Regarding the merits of the State’s case, Nxele said he was not in a position to respond fully as he had yet to study the docket.

While the State told presiding officer Magistrate Sandile Ngwenya that it had a strong case against Nxele, it said it was not opposing bail.

“He is not a flight risk,” Serunye said.

Ngwenya warned Nxele not to interfere with witnesses or change his address without informing the investigating officer.

The matter was postponed to September 16.

Nxele’s arrest came as Idac intensifies its crackdown on senior law-enforcement and government officials accused of corruption.

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Senior law-enforcement officers facing criminal charges include National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, Crime Intelligence head Major General Feroz Khan, Major General Dumisani Khumalo and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

In a recent media briefing, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia denied that there was resistance within the police or his office to Idac’s work.