Zandile Gumede claims courts being unfair to her as corruption trial continues

Former eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, claimed that the courts were being unfair to her as proceedings continue in her trial.

The former mayor and 21 others are accused of fraud, money laundering, and racketeering linked to the Durban solid waste tender worth around R320 million.

Gumede said the ongoing court matters were costing her a lot of money.

On Monday, the State in the matter led evidence from the first State witness, a former eThekwini municipal who couldn’t be named to protect his identity.

However, the proceedings started later than usual.

This did not come as a surprise, following the safety concerns from key witnesses after an alleged attack on one of them.

But the former eThekwini mayor claimed that this was just another delaying tactic in the case.

She also raised concerns that spending too much time in court was affecting her financially.

On Tuesday, the State is set to continue leading evidence from the witness who took the stand on Monday.

Zandile Gumede and her co-accused back in court

Former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and her corruption co-accused are back in court today. They are facing charges of racketeering, fraud, corruption and money laundering.
The case relates to a dodgy 3-hundred and 20-million rand Durban Solid Waste contract. Gumede is accused of using her power as mayor to influence the tender processes.

But she has denied any wrongdoing. Last week the trial was postponed as some of the accused had issues with legal representation.

Zandile Gumede and co-accused’s corruption trial returns to court

THE corruption trial of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and her 19 co-accused will this morning resume at the Durban High Court, with all parties mum about whether it will proceed as planned or not.

The drawn-out trial started in early 2019 when the Hawks pounced on Gumede and others, accusing them of pocketing bribes after issuing a R320 million waste contract in 2017. In its docket, the State alleges that Gumede, former city manager Sipho Nzuza and others were involved in a criminal enterprise to fleece the eThekwini metro of money.

The docket reads like a thriller, with the State having attached bank statements showing how Gumede and Nzuza, among others, allegedly received kickbacks from service providers who were roped in to collect waste.

Some of the beneficiaries of the money were allegedly Gumede’s daughter and relatives whose home renovations were funded by some of the companies that had won the contract. On Nzuza’s part, one of the winning companies allegedly footed the bill when he bought a lavish home for his mother in uMhlanga in the north of Durban.
When asked whether the State was ready to eventually start calling witnesses, the director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Advocate Elaine Zungu, referred Independent Media to a statement the NPA issued when the matter was last heard in June this year.

The statement outlined that the postponement was because the accused had requested some further particulars from the State, and the State itself had added racketeering charges after uncovering more evidence of wrongdoing.

Furthermore, the statement said the high court had set July next year as a possible date for the matter to start listening to oral evidence.
Just like in the past, Gumede’s supporters will be out in full force to show their solidarity outside the court. However, it is unlikely that Gumede will address them as she is currently prevented from doing so by the ANC’s step-aside resolution, which prevents members who are facing criminal charges from addressing party members.

The spokesperson of the supporters, Ntando Khuzwayo, said that while Gumede would not address the supporters, she would pass by and greet them as the step-aside resolution did not prevent her from doing that.

“Of course, as supporters we will be out in full force to show our solidarity outside court. It will be the usual arrangement of pitching a marquee and stage. All Covid-19 protocols will apply,” Khuzwayo said.

Zandile Gumede is one of 12 ANC KZN members to step aside

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday confirmed that 12 members of the party affected by its step-aside resolution, including former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, have taken a break from their positions in the party.

ANC KZN secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli confirmed this at a press briefing by the provincial executive committee (PEC) which met on Monday.

Ntuli said Gumede and the other ANC members had agreed to abide by the contentious step aside resolution which requires all ANC members charged criminally to step down, pending the finalisation of their cases.

“As I had expected, she has warmly welcomed the decision of the ANC and accepted it without any difficulties,” he said.

Ntuli said the provincial leadership had met with “almost all” ANC members affected by the resolution and that only four councillors remained.

He said the party members would not be allowed to take part in ANC activities and meetings during this period.

“If you’re in any of the legislative bodies, whether in Parliament or in council, the first condition is that you must resign from any additional responsibilities allocated to you by virtue of being a member of the legislature or council,” Ntuli said.

However, Ntuli said the affected members could still be nominated for leadership positions within the party.

“There has not been a decision effectively to that direction… in the event where they’re nominated by some of our branches, we can’t stop that process,” he said.

This means Gumede could be re-elected as the ANC chairperson in eThekwini at the regional conference in June.

The ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), the party’s highest decision-making body in between conferences, in March adopted its step aside resolution.

So far, ANC deputy KZN chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu has abided by the resolution. He faces fraud‚ corruption and money laundering charges in the Durban Commercial Crime Court in connection with a failed R28 million jazz festival.

On the other hand, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has taken the party to court for suspending him after he failed to abide by the resolution.

Magashule faces corruption charges in the Free State and wants the high court in Johannesburg to overturn his suspension.

He also wants the court to confirm his attempted suspension of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC said Magashule had no authority or mandate from any of the party’s structures to suspend Ramaphosa.