Gumede could walk free today
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is racing against the clock to formulate specific charges in the corruption case involving former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and 17 others, or else the case will today be struck off the roll.
Gumede and her co-accused, who include suspended eThekwini city manager, Sipho Nzuza and his wife Bagcinele, among others, are today expected to return to the Durban Commercial Crimes Court.
This is in relation to Gumede’s corruption case emanating from a R400 million waste tender issued by the eThekwini Municipality while Gumede was mayor. The State alleges that the former mayor received undue benefits and the tender was issued in an irregular manner.
If the NPA fails to make progress (formulating specific charges) on the matter, the high profile corruption case could be struck off the roll, letting Gumede and her co-accused walk free.
When the matter was heard in December the State was not ready. At the time, prosecutor Ashiken Lucken said the NPA was still finalising a forensic report based on bank records. Lucken said those records would help the State to formulate specific charges.
That did not sit well with Gumede’s legal team, led by advocate Jay Naidoo.
Gumede, and her co-accused, charged Lucken and the State of infringing on their right to a fair and speedy trial.
Presiding magistrate, Dawn Somaroo, later said, some of the accused had their political careers on hold because of the corruption case. This was in apparent reference to Gumede whose ambitions to be re-elected as chairperson of the eThekwini region of the ANC is an open secret.
After long arguments with the legal teams wanting the matter struck off the roll until the State is ready, Somaroo ruled the State should be given until March 23 to get its house in order. The State wanted up until April to get the ball rolling, but its request was rejected.