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Gumede and 17 others are expected to return to the Durban Commercial Crimes Court in connection with the bid fraud in the municipality of eThekwini amounting to more than 400 million rand.
Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede (center) 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 – Former Durban Mayor Zandile Gumede’s lawyer has been informed Eyewitness news that he plans to request that the case against him be removed from the list if the state requests another postponement on Thursday.
Gumede and 17 others are expected to return to the Durban Commercial Crimes Court in connection with the bid fraud in the municipality of eThekwini amounting to more than 400 million rand.
The State has alleged that Gumede and his co-defendant, the former eThekwini executive committee member Mondli Mthembu, improperly interfered with officials during the tender to benefit some of his other co-defendants.
ALSO READ: ANC’s lack of response on Gumede’s removal resulted in court action from IFP – Hlabisa
The case against Gumede and his various co-defendants was postponed in September for the state to complete an audit report on the matter.
His attorney Jay Naidoo said they wanted the trial to start, adding that it was due for a long time.
Gumede has always maintained his innocence, saying that as a policy, he could not interfere with the bidding processes despite the assertions of the National Prosecutor’s Office.
ALSO READ: ‘Gumede continues to influence municipal procedures’, says DA on eThekwini
In her last court appearance, she told her supporters that the African National Congress (ANC) was under attack through her.
“We are at war, but this war is not targeting Zandile Gumede, it is the ANC that is under attack.”
At the same time, Eyewitness news understands that Gumede is still actively campaigning for re-election as the ANC’s eThekwini regional chair after she was ousted last year following her arrest.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Durban Police clash with supporters of suspended Mayor Gumede
Meanwhile, Gumede supporters have criticized the ANC for the delay in announcing its decision on his status as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
Gumede is among 10 KZN members facing criminal charges who were asked to withdraw from their posts following a decision by the ANC’s national executive committee.
That was just a week after their appointment.
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