Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede Assets Seized After Home Was Raided By Assets Forfeiture Unit. It has been acknowledged by the Hawks crime-fighting unit that the home of the former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumeded is being raided.
It has been acknowledged by the Hawks crime-fighting unit that the home of the former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede is being raided. Representatives of the Asset Forfeiture Unit got to the former eThekwini mayor’s home on Thursday morning. The African National Congress stripped Gumede of her role after she was apprehended.
Zandile Gumede and multiple others who were accused are looking at corruption and fraud charges linked to a municipal solid waste tender that’s worth R208 million. The former eThekwini mayor was supposedly not at her home in Umhlanga when the officials came. Natasha Kara, the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, told News24 that the confiscation of the assets was executed on Zandile Gumede and the others who are accused of the charges.
The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson says that they got the orders from the bank to confiscate the assets from the individuals. “This is a simple seizure of assets. We got an order from the court to seize their assets from the various accused in her corruption matter pending the outcome of the criminal charge. In so far as the state’s case goes, we believe these are proceeds of crime,” says Natasha Kara. The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson says multiple properties have been confiscated, including high-end homes in Zimbali, Umhlanga and Amanzimtoti.
She said luxury sports vehicles were also confiscated, which includes Porsches and Lamborghinis. “It is a general process. When we believe an accused owns assets that are proceeds of crime, we get an order from the court to confiscate them and put them under curatorship and the assets stay with the curator,” says Natasha Kara. The spokesperson says that the assets will be returned depending on how the case goes.
by Alexandra Ramaite
