SANDILE MOTHA
THE fraud and corruption case against former ANC eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and her co-accused has been postponed to September.
Gumede and her co-accused, who are out on bail of various amounts, stand accused of alleged corruption over a 2017 Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender.
The value of the alleged tender fraud is R389 million.
Gumede appeared briefly yesterday in the Durban Magistrate’s Court, but the prosecution team submitted to the court that it was not ready to proceed, citing difficulties in attaining financial records from banking institutions.
Suspended city manager, Sipho Nzuza, was the latest to be charged and linked to the fraud, racketeering and corruption allegations relating to a Durban Solid Waste tender.
The accused are believed to have demanded kickbacks and authorised dodgy payments to contractors without doing any work.
Mzomuhle Dube, speaking on behalf of Gumede supporters, told Inside Politics that the dragging of the matter was having a detrimental effect on Gumede’s political life.
“The NPA went on a political expediency exercise and made arrests without having investigated or having evidence linking the former mayor. They are now dilly dallying because their case was based on the so-called whistle blowers who are now nowhere to be found,” explained Dube.
He added that for a year, the prosecution has failed to put the charges to Gumede and as such the defence team has been advised to file for a permanent stay of prosecution application in the next available court date.
“As you’re aware that politicians have a busy schedule. So we are pushing for a permanent stay of prosecution because it is clear that this is just a political witch hunt’” added Dube.
Gumede is seeking re-election as ANC eThekwini regional chairperson.
A victory for Gumede might see her comeback as eThekwini mayor, the post her followers believes she was unceremoniously removed from.
(Compiled by Inside Politics staff)
