Suspended Buffalo City Metro (BCM) finance boss, Vincent Pillay, was today given until Thursday to provide the East London Regional Court with reasons why he wants his trial separated from that of his seven co-accused.
Pillay, together with former BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her then deputy Temba Tinta, former council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, ANC councillor Sindiswa Gomba, metro’s executive support head Ondela Mahlangu and local business owners, Viwe Vazi and Dean Fanoe, are allegedly implicated in the Nelson Mandela funeral fraud scandal.
They all shared a dock today when they briefly appeared infront of East London Regional Court magistrate Sadia Jacobs.
The accused who are all out on bail, were arrested in 2014, except for Pillay who only joined them this past January.
They are facing charges of fraud and corruption in relation to the alleged misuse of over R5-million, from BCM coffers, earmarked for the late statesman’s memorial services and funeral in December 2013.
Three other accused in the matter, former ANC’s DR WB Rubusana regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo, businesswoman Nosiphiwo Mati, and Gauteng-based lawyer Zintle Nkuhlu, had in November successfully applied for their case to be separated from the rest of the accused.
The trio will be back again in court Tuesday morning.
Pillay, through his defence attorney Advocate Richard Quinn, today told Jacobs of his plans to apply for such a separation of trials, with Jacobs giving him until Thursday to provide reasons for such an application to senior state prosecutor, Advocate Diniso Ketani. The eight accused will appear again in court on May 25.
BCM finance boss to explain why he wants separate trial
Suspended Buffalo City Metro (BCM) finance boss, Vincent Pillay, was today given until Thursday to provide the East London Regional Court with reasons why he wants his trial separated from that of his seven co-accused.
Pillay, together with former BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her then deputy Temba Tinta, former council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, ANC councillor Sindiswa Gomba, metro’s executive support head Ondela Mahlangu and local business owners, Viwe Vazi and Dean Fanoe, are allegedly implicated in the Nelson Mandela funeral fraud scandal.
They all shared a dock today when they briefly appeared infront of East London Regional Court magistrate Sadia Jacobs.
The accused who are all out on bail, were arrested in 2014, except for Pillay who only joined them this past January.
They are facing charges of fraud and corruption in relation to the alleged misuse of over R5-million, from BCM coffers, earmarked for the late statesman’s memorial services and funeral in December 2013.
Three other accused in the matter, former ANC’s DR WB Rubusana regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo, businesswoman Nosiphiwo Mati, and Gauteng-based lawyer Zintle Nkuhlu, had in November successfully applied for their case to be separated from the rest of the accused.
The trio will be back again in court Tuesday morning.
Pillay, through his defence attorney Advocate Richard Quinn, today told Jacobs of his plans to apply for such a separation of trials, with Jacobs giving him until Thursday to provide reasons for such an application to senior state prosecutor, Advocate Diniso Ketani. The eight accused will appear again in court on May 25.
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