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This means that the State is expected to present the indictment, its forensic audit report, the police files and all the attachments related to the matter at the next appearance in March.
Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede (opposite right) and some of her co-defendants appear in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court in their corruption case on December 10, 2020. Image: Nkosikhona Duma / EWN
DURBAN – The case against former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede and 17 others has been postponed until March 23 next year.
Gumede and his various co-defendants face charges of corruption, fraud and extortion linked to a waste collection tender amounting to R430 million.
The postponement was granted after the State requested more time to process a forensic audit report and allow pretrial discussions between the State and the defense.
The State initially requested that the case against Gumede and his co-defendants be postponed until May of next year.
One of Gumedes’ co-defendants is eThekwini’s city manager and his wife, Cynthia. Lawyer Gumedes Adv. Jay Naicker has told EWN that he will ask that the matter be removed from the list if the state requests another postponement. @NkoRaphael pic.twitter.com/8Kpyhh9vW1
EWN Reporter (@EWN Reporter) December 10, 2020
However, the defense vehemently objected, arguing that it was unreasonable given that most of the defendants had faced charges for nearly two years.
Gumede’s attorney, Jay Naidoo, told the court that the delays were having a negative impact on his career as a politician.
After heated exchanges between the State and the defense, Judge Dawn Somaroo ruled that the State must make a full discovery to the defense at the next court appearance in March.
This means that the State is expected to present the indictment, its forensic audit report, the police files and all the attachments related to the matter.
Somaroo said that if the state did not comply, the matter could be annulled.
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