Top Presidential Guard Entangled in Alleged Kickback Scheme Amidst #GuptaLeaks Revelations

In a developing story that further delves into the depths of alleged corruption within the highest echelons of South Africa's government, President Jacob Zuma's chief bodyguard has been spotlighted in a suspected kickback scandal connected to a significant real estate transaction. Major-General Muzingaye Mxolisi Dladla, head of the illustrious Presidential Protection Service (PPS), faces claims of receiving a sizeable cash payment to fund the purchase of a luxury home within the esteemed Blue Valley golf estate in Midrand, Gauteng.

This alarming news arises amidst the ongoing #GuptaLeaks investigation, a sweeping exposé that has rocked the country with allegations of deep-seated governmental graft.

Phineas Manthata, the proprietor of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (ITLE), which serves as a pivotal supplier of emergency lights and associated gear to various divisions of the South African Police Service (SAPS)—including the PPS—allegedly contributed R700,000 in 2012 towards the house acquired by Dladla and his then-partner Mogotladi Mogano, a notable figure within the Presidency circle.

Deeds documents unveiled that the property, purchased in July 2012 for R3.2-million, was partially financed by a bank loan amounting to R2.72-million. This left the couple with an evident fiscal shortfall of approximately R720,000 to cover both the deposit and ancillary transaction costs. Manthata's generous financial intervention seems particularly suspect, considering the business relationship between his company and the unit led by Dladla.

SAPS spokespeople, including Major-General Sally De Beer and Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, have acknowledged ITLE's position as a registered supplier but deflected detailed inquiries, citing accountability to Parliament in alignment with the Public Finance Management Act. However, ITLE's own digital presence stoutly declares its client base within the government sector, encompassing the PPS, various metro police agencies, and provincial traffic departments.

The preferential treatment of ITLE by the PPS, as suggested by insiders acquainted with the SAPS's dealings, adds another layer of intrigue to this unfolding narrative. This involves ITLE ostensibly supplying lucrative blue light system installations to PPS vehicles, a service alleged to occur around the same time as Dladla and Mogano's real estate transaction.

Both Major-General Dladla and Manthata aren't strangers to controversy. Dladla's past brushes with the law, including an attempted murder charge and an altercation involving the Scorpions anti-corruption unit, contrast strikingly against his protective duties for the President. Manthata's own encounters—including detention for irregular activities with blue lights in Limpopo and the discovery of a large sum of cash—underscore a pattern of questionable conduct.

The Gupta family's reported offer to furnish travel luxuries for Dladla and Mogano, despite their declination, thickens the plot with suggestions of undue influence and possible corruption within the corridors of power.

This report builds upon the formidable foundation set by the relentless #GuptaLeaks investigation, shedding further light on what appears to be a web of corruption involving high-level figures linked to President Zuma. As the nation continues to confront and unravel such transgressions, the accountability and integrity of its institutions remain under critical public scrutiny.