SOUTH AFRICA COMPUTER THEFT ISSUE IN GOVERNMENT AGENCYthe latest news Welcome to Dispatch Online forEAST LONDON - African National Congress MPL Phaki Hobongwana appeared briefly in the Zwelitsha Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving.


He was released on a warning until his next court appearance on June 11.

Hobongwana, who is also an ANC provincial spokesman, surrendered himself to the Bisho police station from where he was taken directly to court for his appearance.

The charges against him arise from an incident in which he allegedly rammed an officer of the VIP Protection Services with his car, fracturing the man's leg, at the Legislature's gates on May 5.

It was alleged that Hobongwana disobeyed an order by the officer to stop his car so that it could be searched at the gate. Instead the MPL drove the vehicle into the policeman.

It is policy - adopted by the legislature through the internal arrangements committee and security cluster - that everyone on arrival and departure from the Legislature be searched at the gates.

Hobongwana was the chairperson of the committee's security subcommittee which dealt with the the institutions security and safety matters.

Searches on entering the Legislature premises focus on security, while exit searches are conducted to prevent theft from the complex.

The policy was adopted after computers and office equipment were stolen on several occasions in the past.

Police spokesman Thozama Solani yesterday confirmed Hobongwana's court appearance and his release on warning.