Mandela fraud trial to resume

The Mandela memorial fraud trial will go ahead tomorrow  against Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and her nine co-accused, according to a ruling in the East London regional court.

Magistrate Sadia Jacobs criticized prosecutor Diniso Ketani for providing an updated charge sheet riddled with errors to defence lawyers minutes before the trial was due to start on Tuesday.

But Jacobs said today that there was sufficient information in the document to enable the accused to prepare their defences and for the trial to proceed.

Ketani was ordered to correct the errors in the charge sheet and present it to the defence team by 1pm today.

Ncitha, ANC Buffalo City regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo, BCM deputy mayor Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, Sindiswa Gomba, director in Ncitha's office Ondela Mahlangu, Mkolo's ex-girlfriend Nosiphiwo Mati and current girlfriend, Zintle Nkuhlu, and business people Viwe Vazi and Dean Fanoe face various charges relating to the R5.985-million scam to defraud BCM of money earmarked to ferry mourners to memorial services after former President Nelson Mandela's death in December 2013.