Nelson Mandela Foundation
The legal fees for a number of the accused in the Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal are believed to have been funded by the Buffalo City Municipality for the past seven years.
However, It came to light during a pre-trial meeting of the various defence counsels in East London earlier this week that the BCM had withdrawn this funding, leaving many of the accused without the financial backing to pay their legal representatives.
AlgoaFM News understands that the municipality has withdrawn funding to no less than six of the 14 accused who are all employed or were employed, by the municipality.
In response, BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the Municipality was looking into the matter.
"I've had a session with our head of legal services and he's of the view that the matter is sub judice at the moment," said Ngwenya.
"It will be unwise for us to comment on any of the positions we are taking on this issue. There will be a report that is going to Council and Council will have a say on how the Municipality is treating this issue."
The long-running saga has been set down for the 19th of January 2022 in the East London High Court for a plea.
According to local attorney Andre Schoombee, only four of the accused - including his two clients - have confirmed that they are in a position to enter a plea on the date allocated by Judge Tokota.
The accused, who are facing charges of fraud and corruption, including former Buffalo City mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her former deputy Themba Tinta, former Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba and ANC regional leader Pumlani Mkolo.
The National Prosecuting Authority says it is the State’s case that Mkolo, Ncitha, Tinta and Gomba used their positions and influence to set in motion a scheme designed to defraud the municipality and to misappropriate municipal funds earmarked for the transportation of mourners to the various venues where memorial services were to be held for the late President, Nelson Mandela.
