By Sihle Mavuso
Suspended KwaZulu-Natal Correctional Services head Mnikelwa Nxele was granted R50,000 bail by the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after his arrest in a Bosasa-linked fraud and money-laundering case stemming from evidence presented at the State Capture Commission.
Nxele, a former POPCRU official who was later promoted to senior positions in the Department of Correctional Services, was arrested on Tuesday.
His bail conditions include that he must not interfere with witnesses and must surrender his passport to the State.
The case was postponed to 16 September 2026 for an application for a centralisation certificate with the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, according to Henry Mamothame, spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
“His arrest emanates from a referral to IDAC by the DPCI (Hawks) after investigations were conducted on evidence that was provided by Angelo Agrizzi during the State Capture Commission involving BOSASA contracts, valued at approximately R20 million. It is alleged that he received bribes of approximately R100 000 per month while he was the Chairperson of the Special Bid Adjudication Committee in KwaZulu-Natal,” Mamothame said.
Mamothame said the State alleges that fraudulent financial activities were conducted through Zogoba Trust, which Nxele had registered and allegedly used to conceal the movement of funds and assets accumulated through criminality.
“The money was allegedly utilised to purchase properties and for gambling in various casinos around the country. He is further accused of failing to make his financial disclosure with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA),” Mamothame added.
Late last month, Inside Politics reported that Nxele had asked the Madlanga Commission to give him a platform to present evidence of alleged corruption, maladministration and criminal infiltration in the correctional services sector.
Nxele, who has faced repeated suspensions and disciplinary action but has also won several labour-related rulings against the department, first wrote to the commission in October last year.
In his correspondence, which Inside Politics has seen, Nxele told the commission that correctional services had allegedly been affected by infiltration by gangs and criminals, as well as corruption and maladministration on a large scale.
Nxele said it was in that context that he believed he could make an important contribution to the commission’s work by assisting it to identify alleged corruption and those responsible, so that they could be held to account.
He also told the commission that he wanted to provide information about the appointment of senior officials in the department.
INSIDE METROS
