Fresh trial for BCM ex-boss
Former Buffalo City Metro director Vuyo Zambodla has failed in his high court bid to permanently stay his prosecution for fraud.
The fraud and corruption trial of Zambodla and businesswoman Amanda Ncanywa has dragged on for some years, culminating in the shock recusal of magistrate Paul Pretorius close to the end of the trial in 2014.
It is alleged that Zambodla had, without having any authority to do so, in 2009 awarded a tender to his then girlfriend, Ncanywa for R191,400 to organise public viewing areas (PVAs) in BCM for soccer World Cup events – despite her company not being registered on the BCM database as required.
This amount was then allegedly inflated to some R419,310.
Ncanywa had sub-contracted the work to another company as she did not have the capacity to organise the event.
At the time of his recusal towards the end of the trial, Pretorius said his reasons included what he referred to as the prosecutor’s irregular cross-examination, the frequent delays caused by the number of postponements and the animosity between the prosecutor and the applicant’s counsel, advocate Terry Price, SC.
Zambodla, who was facing a new trial, then applied to the high court to permanently stay his prosecution, claiming he had been prejudiced by the many delays and ultimately the recusal of the magistrate.
But in a ruling released last week, judge Judith Roberson disagreed.
She dismissed the application...
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