[FILE] A warrant for the arrest of Danville Smith has been issued following his failure to appear in court. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay and @WCProvParl / Twitter
Former ANC MPL Danville Smith arrested and released on the same day
A warrant of arrest was issued for Smith after he skipped court last week. He was arrested and appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday.
[FILE] A warrant for the arrest of Danville Smith has been issued following his failure to appear in court. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay and @WCProvParl / Twitter
Danville Smith, a former councillor in the Cederberg Municipality and ANC Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the Western Cape, was arrested for failing to appear in court, on Thursday, 25 August.
DANVILLE SMITH RELEASED ON A WARNING AFTER SKIPPING COURT
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said Smith handed himself over to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team on Thursday. A warrant for his arrest was issued last week after he failed to appear in court and face his charges of fraud and corruption on 16 August.
READ: Warrant of arrest issued for suspended ANC MPL
The 39-year-old appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville, Cape Town on the day of his arrest and was released on a warning.
His co-accused, Peter Blankenberg, also failed to appear in court on the 16th. However, he had a medical certificate. The matter was postponed to 5 September when both are expected in court, said the National Prosecuting Authority.
“The pair is charged with corruption, fraud, contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act,” said NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila.
The Hawks said the charges the pair face stem from a lengthy investigation into irregularities in the Cederberg Municipality where Smith was Councillor until 2016. Blankenberg was the District Committee member for Ward 5 in Lambert’s Bay in Cederberg Municipality.
It is alleged the pair stole R28 200 during the planning of Mandela Bay celebrations in Lambert’s Bay on 18 July 2016.
The accused allegedly submitted a R28 200 invoice from a company even though the business did not render any services to the municipality. The owner of the company allegedly pocketed R3200.
In another matter, Smith was arrested for the theft of a motor vehicle and fraud in June 2022. His party membership was suspended shortly thereafter. The accused also served as the ANC’s West Coast regional treasurer.
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