The trial of former eThekwini Municipality mayor, Zandile Gumede, and her 21 co-accused resumes in the Durban High Court on Monday.
Gumede’s co-accused include former municipal manager, Sipho Nzuza, and some former ANC councillors. They face multiple charges including fraud and corruption in connection with a multi-million rand waste removal tender in 2017.
In July, the State raised safety concerns after shots were fired at the home of one of its witnesses. The court then barred the media from publishing recordings and visuals of the proceedings to protect the identity of witnesses.
When this matter resumes, the court might hear a joint media application. This will be to overturn its decision barring the media from publishing records and visuals of the proceedings. During the last proceedings, journalists were allowed to sit in court and take notes. However, they were forced to leave cell phones and laptops at security.
The decision was prompted by the State’s request to investigate any possible serious threats against its witnesses.
This was after shots were fired at the home of a witness who was due to testify.
In her ruling, Judge Sharmaine Balton said while she wanted the matter to proceed, she felt it should not be at the risk of any of the witnesses or anyone involved in the trial.
When the matter resumed under the new ruling, a municipal official from the Durban Solid Waste unit took the stand. His identity was withheld due to safety concerns. He gave details of how several companies were awarded controversial multi-million-rand contracts. He cited that he was forced to sign off on questionable invoices. Should the media not file its application challenging this ruling. The defence will begin to cross-examine the DSW municipal official.
