The Nelson Mandela funeral fraud trial against politicians, former Buffalo City Metro officials and businessmen, is scheduled to resume at the Bhisho High Court on Monday, April 11.
They are charged with fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
The accused persons include suspended ANC Amatole Regional Chairperson, Phumlani Mkolo, former Buffalo City Speaker, Luleka Simon-Ndzele, former Mayor, Zukiswa Ncitha, and former Deputy Mayor, Themba Tinta, former Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba and the Municipality’s former Supply Chain Manager, Thembelani Sali.
All the accused have pleaded not guilty, and on Monday the prosecution will lead its first oral evidence, as to the whole term, which will end on June 10, has been set aside for this trial.
News24 earlier reported that the 14 stand accused of misleading the Buffalo City Municipality into believing it had an obligation to make funds available for Nelson Mandela’s funeral service in 2013.
It is alleged that once R10 million was made available, they allegedly acted with a common purpose to defraud and manipulate municipal procurement processes through illegal deviation, and to manipulate the situation so the funding could be used for other purposes other than for what it was officially approved for.
