Former Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba, and 11 others expected to appear before the East London Magistrate Court on charges Tuesday. They are facing fraud and corruption charges relating to a multimillion-rand corruption in arrangements for the funeral of the late former President Nelson Mandela in 2013.
In December 2017, Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane released a report that exposed how officials in the Buffalo City Metro misused about R300 million that was intended for service delivery, including ablution facilities, water, electricity and sanitation under the guise of the Mandela funeral. The former health MEC was released from her duties by Premier Oscar Mabuyane to allow her to deal with allegations levelled against her.
The National Prosecuting Authority said they misled the municipal council into accepting that it was responsible for the transportation of mourners to Qunu. According to NPA spokesperson, Sipho Ngwema, the case might be transferred to the High Court for trial.
