Sandiso Phaliso
Ten people who are facing fraud charges related to the funeral of the former president Nelson Mandela in 2013 appeared in court on Wednesday.
Amongst those facing charges were former Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba, regional chair Pumlani Mkolo, former Buffalo City metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele and Gauteng-based attorney Zintle Nkuhlu.
The case against Nkuhlu was withdrawn at the East London Magistrate’s Court after she turned state witness.
Nkuhlu will now testify against the 10 other accused in the case.
Gomba, who was fired from her post after her arrest earlier this year, is now standing accused with the remaining nine suspects for fraud, corruption and money laundering.
It is alleged that the accused deceived Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality into believing it had an obligation to make money available for the memorial service of former president Nelson Mandela in 2013.
Gomba was a councillor at the municipality at the time.
It is alleged that R10 million was siphoned from the municipality under a false pretence that it will be used for the struggle icon’s funeral.
Their trial is expected to last seven days from 5 to 13 October 2021 at the East London High Court and all accused have been served with indictment and copies of the docket.
The granting of the postponement came after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) asked for another postponement for the Eastern Cape Judge President and Justice department minister to allocate a special court but legal representatives of the accused argued that a postponement will prejudice their clients.
One of the legal representatives, Andre Schoombee, argued that the postponement of the case “has not even once been the fault of the accused”.
“Their (accused) lives have instead been disrupted” as a result of the case, said Schoombee, adding that there are eight attorneys involved in the case “so financially it’s draining them and most of the accused were politicians so their careers are put on hold”.
Schoombee had asked that the case be provisionally dropped until the state sorted itself.
Nkuhlu, Mati and her company, Mpidos, received the proceeds of unlawful activities, as arranged between Mkolo and Sokwali.
According to the charge sheet, the plan was, firstly, to mislead the council into accepting that it was expected to make funding available for the transportation of mourners to various venues, where memorial services were to be held. Then, to manipulate the situation, so that funding could be used for purposes other than for what they were officially approved for.
NPA spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga said the State was ready for trial.
“There was never an attempt to delay the proceedings at all,” said Mhaga.
