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Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba
- Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and 14 co-defendants will appear in East London Magistrates Court.
- They are charged with fraud, money laundering and corruption in connection with R10 million for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
- More than 6 million rand were allegedly embezzled under the pretext that it would be used for funeral arrangements.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba has reached the East London Magistrates Court on charges of fraud, money laundering, infraction of the Municipal Finance Management Act and corruption related to R10 million earmarked for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
Gomba will take the stand alongside 14 other defendants, including the ANC bigwigs in the Buffalo City subway. Among them are the ANC regional president, Phumlani Mkolo, former mayor Zukisa Ncitha, former president Luleka Simon-Nzele and businessmen.
It is alleged that a portion of the R10 million spent on logistics around Mandela’s funeral in 2013 was diverted through failure to comply with bidding processes. It is alleged that more than 6 million rand were embezzled under the pretext that it would be used for funeral arrangements.
READ | Eastern Cape fraud surrounding Mandela’s funeral to be investigated after Ramaphosa signed the SIU proclamations
The scandal was discovered by former city manager Andile Fani after returning from leave. He managed to block more payments. Other defendants in the case include high-profile Buffalo City employees, prominent members of political parties and businessmen.
The fraud and corruption case against EC Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and 14 others, including ANC bigwigs in Buffalo City Township, was postponed until March 5 to allow the defense to receive copies of the files and defendants Pending to be added. pic.twitter.com/7PsVOOn3Mk
– Malibongwe Dayimani (@MaliDayimani) February 12, 2021
“The suspects will respond to allegations related to the hiring of service providers for transportation and reservation of places during the memorial service and funeral arrangements for the late Dr. Nelson Mandela by the Metropolitan Municipality of Buffalo City,” the spokesman said of the Hawks, Colonel Katlego Mogale.
“This happened between the period 2013 and 2014. The alleged fraudulent claims total R10 million.”
The Hawks’ East London serious business crime investigation unit has conducted a thorough investigation that led to the arrest this morning, Mogale said.
Eastern Cape Hawks chief Major General Obed Ngwenya praised the team for bringing the perpetrators to justice for “wasting resources” during a period when the country mourned the death of an icon, Mogale said.
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