Photo: Twitter screenshot / Hawks
Photo: Twitter screenshot / Hawks
A dawn raid on a property that’s home to disgraced ex-Mayor of eThekwini Zandile Gumede has been conducted in Umhlanga on Thursday. The home is being searched after the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Hawks banded together for this joint operation.
Zandile Gumede latest news – assets seized in Durban
Gumede is being investigated for multiple counts of fraud and corruption during her three years in office. the eThekiwni Municipality became a breeding ground for illicit activity, and the ANC representative was at the heartbeat of it all. She is believed to have fiddled millions from dodgy tender handouts.
The politician has appeared in court several times, and is due back in January to face the music. Zandile Gumede was initially placed in suspension on three separate occasions before eventually getting the boot. Things have gone from bad to worse for her this morning, as a number of her assets were seized.
#BREAKING: The Hawks and Asset Forfeiture Unit are swooping on the home of former #Ethekwini mayor #ZandileGumede in Umhlanga this morning to seize her assets. This is in relation to her multimillion rand fraud and corruption case. @etvNewsSA pic.twitter.com/8aiQVfj0BJ
— Nabeelah Shaikh (@Nabeelah_Shaikh) October 10, 2019
How Zandile Gumede breached her bail conditions
It now seems that Zandile Gumede won’t just have to worry about getting served now, either. There was an intriguing development at the property when law enforcement officials were told by her landlords that the ex-mayor had actually moved out of the property some time ago – breaching her bail conditions.
This could have serious ramifications for the embattled public figure. Zandile Gumede had to pay R50 000 to regain her freedom, but it came with strict terms and conditions. Changing your whereabouts from a previously-agreed address – and then keeping those details to yourself – is a major legal own goal
#sabcnews #sabckzn The Hawks says former eThekwini Mayor #ZandileGumede has moved out of her uMhlanga property without notifying the investigating officer. They say this is in breach of her bail condition. She’s charged with corruption and fraud. pic.twitter.com/lIGWIyY3jY
— Nonjabulo Mntungwa (@NjabuloMntungwa) October 10, 2019
Catch her if you can
We understand that the operation will now move to Inanda, where Zandile Gumede is thought to be residing for now. She has confirmed to the media that she has spoken to her lawyers on the issue. It’s also been noted that sports cars – including a Porsche and a Lamborghini – have been seized on Thursday.
The AFU have said they are raiding more than 10 properties. A total of R51 million in assets are being seized.
#ZandileGumede The Hawks are making their way to the former mayors homestead in Inanda where they will physically serve her with the notice of the seizure.
— Ziyanda N (@ZiyandaNgcobo) October 10, 2019
