Trial set for top BCM officials, politicians

LEADING Buffalo City Metro officials and politicians facing charges of fraud will go on trial in the East London Regional Court on October 25.

They include chief financial officer Vincent Pillay, supply chain manager Thembelani Sali, head of executive support services Ncumisa Sidukwana, councillor Luleka Simonthe city’s lawyer Matthew Moodley and former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha.

They appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when the trial date was set.

They were represented Mike Maseti.

Senior prosecuting advocate Diniso Ketani provided the defence with an annexure to the charge sheet.

Investigations into have been finalised.

The accused are facing two charges of fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

The charges the emanate by from advocate matter an incident on May 7 2015 when Sidukwana allegedly submitted a memorandum to former municipal manager Andile Fani requesting approval for a deviation to appoint Moodley to provide legal services.

According to papers before the court, Sali allegedly supported the memorandum saying: “The accounting officer [Fani] has the authority to approve the deviation as reflected in regulation 36(1)(a) (i)(v) of the Municipal Finance Management Act based on the expositions in this memorandum.”

But Fani refused to approve the deviation.

The state alleges that three days later Sidukwana asked an employee to write a requisition requesting legal services and submit it to Sali’s department for processing without supporting documents.

Moodley was hired and allegedly quoted R189 000 for his services.

Moodley was accused of billing BCM for work done from May 7 2015 while in fact he started working on May 13.

Pillay was charged for contravening Section 174(3) of the MFMA.