Zandile Gumede, 21 co-accused return to court for R300m corruption trial

The fraud and corruption trial of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and her 21 co-accused is expected to resume on Monday in the Durban High Court.

Durban solid waste tender

The former mayor and her co-accused – persons and companies – face several charges, including:

• Conspiracy to commit corruption,
• Corruption,
• Fraud,
• Money laundering,
• Racketeering,
• Contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act,
• Contravention of the Municipal Systems Act in connection with an irregular Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender amounting to over R300 million.

ALSO READ: Zandile Gumede’s R320 million corruption trial postponed to March 2023

Gumede’s and co-accused involvement

The trial began in August last year when the State read the charges to the accused during pre-trial proceedings.

Gumede and her co-accused pleading not guilty to the charges preferred against them. 

The State alleges that eThekwini officials, including the former city manager Sipho Nzuza, circumvented the supply chain management processes on the multimillion-rand DSW tender to benefit identified persons and service providers.

Kickbacks

The State also alleges that Gumede and her co-accused received R2 881 350 in kickbacks between January 2017 and July 2019, to ensure the predetermined businesses benefited from waste contracts.

The accused have always maintained their innocence in the matter, with Gumede claiming that the charges against her are politically motivated.

Gumede, a serving member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature, claims she did not take part in or influence supply chain management processes during her tenure as eThekwini mayor.

NOW READ: Delay in Zandile Gumede corruption case as co-accused fail to pay lawyers