Gumede corruption trial kicks off in Durban High Court

Gumede corruption trial kicks off in Durban High Court

State prosecutors on Monday began to lay out the fraud and corruption case against former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and her 21 co-accused.

Zandile Gumede trial set down for July
Nushera Soodyal

Their trial is being heard in the Durban High Court.


They collectively face over 2 700 charges in relation to a Durban Solid Waste tender worth over R300 million.


Prosecutor Hazel Siramen began by carefully describing the alleged involvement of each of the accused and in particular the five believed to be the main players of an alleged criminal enterprise.


Accused number one, Gumede is alleged to have been the principal controller of the enterprise.


The state says Gumede determined the objectives, the structure, the operational dynamics, and the beneficiaries of the actions of the enterprise.


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She is alleged to have used her office to capture councillors, the supply chain management process as well as financial components of the city.


Accused number two, Mondli Mthembu was a councillor, number three, Sipho Nzuza was the city’s accounting officer, number four, Robert Abbu was the Deputy Head of DSW and number five, Sandile Ngcobo, was the Deputy Head of Supply Chain Management.


They are alleged to have acted with Gumede.


They are accused of using their authority to bypass and manipulate supply management processes in favour of four businesses.


The four companies are accused of inflating invoices issued to eThekwini by creating the impression that greater volumes of refuse were disposed of.


It’s alleged the members of the enterprise then received kickbacks from the companies.

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