The corruption trial of former Durban Mayor Zandile Gumede has been postponed.
The former mayor is standing trial alongside 21 others for corruption, racketeering and fraud relating to tenders for solid wastes management.
In all, Gumede and the other accused faced charges totaling over 2,700.
Their trial was initially postponed because oner of the accused, Zithulele Mkhize, could not get legal representation.
The current postponement would see the case treated again on July 18. The deferment was confirmed by one of the defense lawyers, Jay Naidoo. Before the trial commences again, however, there would be a pre-trial conference to “iron out some issue.”
"You wont see white people taking pictures of themselves like this, black people have no shame," Former eThekwini Mayor, Zandile Gumede MPL, is visibly frustrated as she leaves court.
Gumede & 21 charges face charges of corruption relating to a R320million tender.@WitnessKZNpic.twitter.com/un3SNsxaUq
— Thabiso Goba (@ThabisoGoba2) March 29, 2022
Some South Africans appear irritated that the former mayor never spent a day in a cell for allegedly looting hundreds of millions from the city treasury, while Nhlanhla Lux, who’s only campaigning to rid South Africa of drugs and illegal immigrants, was detained without bail.
Zandile Gumede might be facing corruption allegations, but it appears she’s still influential, especially withing the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Some of her supporters who had stormed the court for the hearing claimed that she’s leading the pack in the ANC regional chairperson post. She had previously been removed as mayor in 2019. It remains to be seen what will follow when the trial commences again.
