Africa-Press – South-Africa. Seven people accused of swindling the Buffalo City
Metro out of R10 million, and pretending the funds were meant for the 2013
funeral of late president Nelson Mandela, have pleaded not guilty to fraud,
money laundering and the contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act
(MFMA).”All the accused have pleaded not guilty, and
on Monday, the prosecution will lead its first oral evidence, [and] the whole
term, which will end on 10 June, has been set aside for this trial,”
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said.Axed Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba (right) chatting to co-accused Zukiswa Ncitha, who is the former mayor of Buffalo City Metro, and their lawyer, advocate Michael Maseti.News24 PHOTO: Malibongwe Dayimani/News24 The trial of suspended ANC Amatole regional
chairperson Phumlani Mkolo; former Buffalo City speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele;
former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha; former deputy mayor Themba Tinta; former Eastern
Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba; and the municipality’s former supply chain
manager, Thembelani Sali is expected to be heard in the Eastern Cape High Court
in Bhisho.
READ | Mandela funeral scandal: Buffalo City stops paying legal
fees of 4 former senior councillorsIt is alleged that the accused acted with a common
purpose to defraud and manipulate municipal procurement processes. They
allegedly manipulated the situation, so that the funds could be used for other
purposes than what they were approved for.In January, advocate Mike Maseti told Judge Igna
Stretch in the High Court in East London that his instructing law firm had
withdrawn from representing Simon-Ndzele, Ncitha, Gomba and Sali after the
metro’s decision to stop paying their legal billsEastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane fired Gomba on
18 February after she was charged.
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