Zandile Gumede pleads not guilty in Durban court

WITH more than 2 000 counts on charges that former eThekwini Municipality mayor Zandile Gumede and 21 others faced yesterday in the Durban High Court, they all pleaded not guilty to the counts read out to them thus far.

All the accused pleaded with no plea explanation and their lawyers said that they all elected to remain silent.

“No, nothing like that ever happened and I plead not guilty,” said Gumede in relation to count 4.

The counts relate to the contravention of the Organised Crime Act where the State alleges that between December 2017 and July 2019, the accused benefited through proceeds of unlawful activities.

It said these were derived from payments generated through a pattern of racketeering activity illustrated through their planned, ongoing, continuous or repeated participation or involvement in the alleged offences.

The 22 face charges including conspiracy to commit corruption, corruption, fraud, money laundering, racketeering, contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act and contravention of the Municipal Systems Act; amounting to over R300 million.

The accused in this matter are an array of eThekwini municipal officials (current and past), ward councillors, business people and their companies.

The State alleges that eThekwini officials, including the former city manager and ex-mayor, circumvented the supply chain management processes on a Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender, for the benefit of identified service providers for over R300 million.

Gumede faces counts 113 to 120 alone and when they were read out she pleaded not guilty, saying: “There are no monies that I received.”

State prosecutor Ashika Lucken will continue reading the rest of the counts against the accused who are expected to continue pleading today.