No fewer than fifteen suspects in South Africa have been charged by a court in connection with a fraud case relating to the funeral of the former president, Nelson Mandela, in 2013.
Those facing charges include prominent members of the ruling African National Congress in the Eastern Cape province; namely: the health minister of Eastern Cape province, Sindiswa Gomba, a number of business figures, and other lawmakers from the governing ANC.
Other suspects who prosecutors accuse of corruption and money-laundering amounting to nearly $700,000 (£500,000) include the regional chair, Pumlani Mkolo, former Buffalo City metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele.
“This matter is coming back to the roll after it was withdrawn in 2019 in order for the investigation to tighten up the loose ends and add more charges,” Sipho Ngwema, the national spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, was quoted as saying on Friday by news site EWN.
According to reports, allegations first emerged in 2014, months after Mandela’s funeral in Qunu, Eastern Cape, in December 2013, which was attended by heads of state from around the world.
