Former Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba was among the 15 accused who pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a myriad of charges related to the Mandela funeral funding scandal.
The matter will continue on Thursday in the Bhisho High Court after the accused, which include several entities, appeared in the East London High Court.
Accused number one former ANC regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo was absent in court due to an illness, however, his defence Advocate Mike Maseti presented his not guilty plea before court.
Several business people and their entities are among those charged.
The draft charges sheet points an accusatory finger at accused one to five, which include Mkolo, former Buffalo City mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy, Themba Thinta, and former MEC Gomba.
The state alleges that they “used their positions of influence to set in motion a scheme designed to defraud the municipality and to misappropriate for the benefit of party and personal interests, municipal funds earmarked for the transportation of mourners to various venues where memorials service were to be held.”
The 37-page draft charge sheet lists 23 counts, that include fraud and money laundering and the contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act, among other charges and alternative charges.
Gomba later said that the four charges against her were “hogwash” and related to meetings, where a service provider was apparently chosen.
She said the allegations against her were “a blatant lie,” saying as a politician she had no role in procurement.
“At the end of the day you start to wonder what credible institution can come up with charge like that,’ she said.
Meanwhile, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said for the NPA it was important that “they have pleaded.”
He said “there’s an indication that some of the accused do not have the finances to pay for private legal representation”, adding that Legal Aid is available to assist them.
Mhaga said the Bhisho High Court will hear an application for the separation of trial for accused no. 10, Dean William Fanoe and his company, Mantella Trading 522 CC, which the NPA would oppose.
He said a separation of trials would not be in the interest of justice.
Mhaga said the matter is being heard in Bhisho because the court offers more space in line with Covid19 regulations.
