The trial of former Mayor of eThekwini Zandile Gumede and co-accused is scheduled to begin on Monday 18 July 2022, in the Durban High Court, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
Gumede, who has been criminally charged, said she remained confident ahead of her fraud, corruption and money laundering trial relating to R320 million which was allegedly syphoned over 18 months through the renewal of an “illegal” Durban sold waste contract.
“They have no case against me, I was not an executive mayor, I did not deal with the supply chain. The issue is with the city’s administration and contractors, not with politicians,” Gumede said.
A source close to the case said they expected applications for an adjournment from some of the accused as they had not yet “placed their legal representatives in funds”. The presiding judge will have to decide on which path to follow in this regard.
The judge can either give the accused more time to come up with money or insist that they apply for legal aid if they qualify.
Gumede is accused number one in the case and is named as one of the key role players in the state’s indictment. She enters the trial with strong political support after she was elected as the ANC’s regional chairperson in April. Gumede cannot sit in the position as the party’s step aside rule says those who are criminally charged should step aside until they are cleared by the courts.
Gumede contentiously remains a sitting member of the KwaZulu Natal legislature.