Riyaz Patel
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has confirmed that it has seized assets belonging to former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede in Umhlanga Thursday morning.
Gumede and several co-accused are facing fraud and corruption charges related to a municipal solid waste tender worth R208m.
The AFU, together with the Hawks and SAPS, obtained a court order for Gumede’s belongings to be placed under curatorship.
Several properties from all the accused were seized, including upmarket homes in Umhlanga, Amanzimtoti and Zimbali, Natasha Kara from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
Gumede, all swanked with a fur scarf, responded by saying she is “poor as a church mouse.”
She has insisted on her innocence, but the African National Congress suspended her for months before removing her from her mayoral position in August.
“This is simple a seizure of assets. We got an order from the court to seize their assets from the various accused in her corruption matter pending the outcome of the criminal charge. In so far as the state’s case goes, we believe these are proceeds of crime,” Kara said.
Gumede’s spokesperson Mzomuhle Dube said she rented the property while she was mayor and moved out when she was axed from her mayoral post.
“Ms Gumede does not own that property. What assets did they take? If the property does not belong to her then why would they say the assets belonged to her? Those people are desperate. They never had a case. This is a desperate move.”
Dube described the operation as a beautiful camera action stunt choreographed by the Hawks.
It’s not yet been established which – if any – of the luxury cars belong to Zandile Gumede, but what is clear is that her co-accused all earn the standard wage of municipal officers.
It’s not a bad salary, but it’s definitely not ‘Ferraris in the garage’ money.
