The State’s failure to produce a key witness in the corruption case against former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and the 21 other accused suspects, highlights the dire need for witness protection in South Africa, according to Professor Mary de Haas.
De Haas spoke to the publication on Monday regarding the ongoing case against Gumede and the 21 co-accused and she said she feared for the lives of witnesses, as there is “very little done to protect them”.
The case against former eThekwini Municipality Zandile Gumede and 21 co-accused, including former City manager Sipho Nzuza, was postponed on Monday after a State witness failed to appear in the Durban High Court, local media reported.
The former mayor and her co-accused are charged with fraud, money laundering, and racketeering stemming from a Durban Solid Waste tender worth around R320 million.
They have denied all charges. Gumede is being represented by Advocate Jay Naidoo.
After his cross-examination, Naidoo asked that the case be dismissed because the CIIU had unlawfully appointed IFS to investigate the matter.
-IOL
In other news – Social media suspects Sizwe Dhlomo is Anele Mdoda’s baby daddy
Social media is known to have a dark sense of humour and also has zero qualms when it comes to upsetting just about anyone with the things they post online. This time, one popular Twitter user, Chris Excel, decided to share his suspicions about Anele Mdoda’s son Alakhe being her close friend Sizwe Dhlomo’s child.
His post left social media users laughing out loud as they discussed the possibility. While not many were convinced, others discussed the child’s resemblance to Sizwe. Read More
