The Ventersdorp Regional Court has postponed the fraud and theft trial against the former Executive Mayor of the Potchefstroom based JB Marks Local Municipality, Kgotso Khumalo, and his co-accused to 04 May 2022, for further trial.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Henry Mamothame says Khumalo, Cyril Hendry and Mohau Shuping are facing eight charges of theft and defrauding municipal funds, and they have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
It is alleged that the North-West University and the Programme for Community Development, paid millions into a trust account belonging to Coetzee’s law firm, for the use of specific projects by the municipality.
The attorney was then given instructions to effect various payments, including 208 000 mayoral committee contributions, towards the funeral of the late North West MEC for Agriculture, Duma Ndleleni, who passed away in November 2018.
The postponement is owed to Khumalo’s attorney’s ill-health, and one of his co-accused requested time to source the services of a new legal representative. This matter has been postponed several times, owing to Khumalo’s ill health.
The matter will now resume on May 4.
