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Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede previously accused the state of treating her unfairly by arresting her before completing his investigations.
Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede and some of his co-defendants appear before the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on September 10, 2020 on charges related to corruption. Image: Nkosikhona Duma / EWN
DURBAN – The case against former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and 16 others has been postponed until December 10.
Gumede and his co-defendants face corruption charges linked to bid fraud amounting to more than R400 million.
The State requested the postponement, saying that although it had sufficient evidence to initiate a criminal proceeding, a forensic audit had yet to be completed.
Gumede and several co-defendants appeared in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday.
He has always maintained his innocence saying that as a policy he could not interfere in the bidding processes.
The former mayor of eThekwini, Zandile Gumede, has arrived at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court. She and 16 others face corruption charges related to bid fraud valued at more than R400 million. @NkoRaphael pic.twitter.com/SlF0F8qYCo
– EWN reporter (@ewnreporter) September 10, 2020
The court has taken a 10-minute break at the request of Gumede’s attorney, Adv. Jay Naicker. Gumede appears irritable as he discusses court proceedings with his co-defendant Sipho Nzuza and his attorney Jay Naicker. @NkoRaphael pic.twitter.com/BJ9JMhyxRz
– EWN reporter (@ewnreporter) September 10, 2020
Gumede previously accused the state of treating her unfairly by arresting her before completing her investigations.
The State said that while it had sufficient evidence to pursue the case, it hoped to discover more before the next hearing date.
State prosecutor Ashika Lucken reiterated that an audit report from the eThekwini municipality showed what appeared to be irregularities during Gumede’s tenure as mayor.
The State plans to use the next three months to complete its own forensic audit report.
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