Sindiswa Gomba

Image via: NPA

Mandela funeral scandal: Eastern Cape Health MEC and others released on bail

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba and others appeared in court on Friday with regards to the Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal.

Sindiswa Gomba

Image via: NPA

Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and ten other accused were released on bail after they briefly appeared in court on charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act linked to the Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal.

TEN ACCUSED, INCLUDING SINDISWA GOMBA, RELEASED ON BAIL 

Phumzile Mkolo, Zukiswa Veronica Ncitha, Themba Tinta, Luleka Simon-Ndzele, Sindiswa Gomba, Tembelani Prideaux Sali, Ondela Vatile Mahlangu, Viwe Vazi, Zintle Nkuhlu (a trustee of the Lilly Rose Trust) and Nqaba Ludidi were granted bail by the East London Regional Court on Friday. 

Nosiphiwo Mati couldn’t make it to court because she was unwell, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said. 

The accused were released on the condition that they surrender their passports to the investigating officer; don’t commit any other offence while on bail; don’t communicate with witnesses, and report to the investigating officer via phone every Sunday. The matter was postponed to 5 March 2021 for the defence to obtain copies of the docket and for the outstanding suspects to appear in court.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has noted the charges against Sindiswa Gomba and her appearance in court on Friday morning. 

“Premier Mabuyane takes the charges against Ms Gomba and other people accused in this case very serious. Now that Ms Gomba has been charged by the NPA and was released on bail, the premier will look into this matter and he will communicate his decision to the people of the province soon,” the office of the premier said in a statement on Friday. 

“It is worth noting that when premier appointed Ms Gomba into this position, she was not facing any charges because the NPA provisionally withdrew charges against her,” it added. 

NELSON MANDELA FUNERAL SCANDAL 

It is alleged that following the death of former president Nelson Mandela on 5 December 2013, a scheme was hatched by the accused to swindle the BCM of R10 million. Although R5.9 million was successfully transferred to them, the municipal manager, Andile Fani, halted further payment of R4.1 million.

On 6 December 2013, before the BCM had an opportunity to officially consider procurement of services for the funeral, Mkolo agreed with a service provider, Mzwandile Sokwali from Victory Ticket 750 CC (Victory Ticket), that Victory Ticket would submit an inflated quotation for the transportation of mourners to various venues. 

Sokwali was also asked to obtain a quotation from another service provider, for an amount more than Victory Ticket’s quotation. This was done and MNI Transport also submitted a quotation to the value of R10 580 000.

“It is alleged that the BCM officials acted with a common purpose to defraud and manipulate municipal procurement processes through illegal deviation in order to ensure the appointment of Victory Ticket. Further, Nkuhlu, Mati and her company, Mpidos, received proceeds of unlawful activities, as arranged between Mkolo and Sokwali,” said Ngwema. 

“The plan was, firstly, to mislead the BCM council into accepting that it was expected of the BCM to make funding available for the transportation of mourners to various venues where memorial services were to be held. Then, to manipulate the situation so that funding could be used for other purposes than for what they officially were approved for,” added Ngwema.