By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and co-accused has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, and racketeering.
Gumede and her 21 co-accused on Monday morning returned to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court sitting in Durban for the commencement of their corruption matter after several delays in getting the trial underway.
They face numerous counts, including conspiracy to commit corruption, corruption, fraud, money laundering, racketeering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act amounting to over R300 million.
The matter is in connection with an irregular multi-million rand Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender that was issued by the eThekwini metro during Gumede’s tenure as mayor.
State prosecutor Ashika Lucken began reading out the charges against the accused, and with over 2 000 counts, it is expected that the matter will continue well into the afternoon.
Lucken had read out count one, which all the accused are charged with, as well as count two, which relates to managing the racketeering enterprise that only applies to accused one to five, these being Gumede, Mondli Mthembu, Sipho Nzuza, Robert Abbu and Sandile Ngcobo.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Natasha Ramkissoon Kara said the State was pleased that the trial has started.
“We are pleased that the trial is finally under way and this is just the first process where the indictment has to be read under record and the charges have to be put to be put to the accused,” she said.