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Witnesses Demand eThekwini Corruption Probe as Gumede Case Deepens
The corruption trial of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede has taken yet another twist, as key state witnesses and a leading forensic firm now demand that the city itself face scrutiny. Their move highlights a growing frustration with what they describe as municipal inaction on serious allegations of financial misconduct.
Why witnesses are turning on the city
In new papers filed at the Durban High Court, Integrity Forensic Solutions (IFS) and unnamed witnesses in the Gumede case are asking judges to compel the municipality to investigate irregular spending and maladministration. Their safety prevents their names from being made public, but their role in Gumede’s ongoing trial is already considered central.
IFS director Leo Saunders explained in the application that the city’s Executive Committee rejected a request back in May to probe complaints formally lodged in April. To him, this was not a technical issue but a question of rights. As Saunders put it, those who file corruption complaints should not be denied an investigation by the very officials tasked with ensuring accountability.
The contracts at the centre of the storm
At the heart of the case are two companies, Masama Consulting and SVZ Consulting, which were contracted by the municipality and paid more than R17.5 million. These firms produced the so-called “Masama Report” in 2024, which controversially found that IFS itself had been unlawfully appointed and flagged other questionable payments.
Those findings had real consequences. Several eThekwini employees were dismissed, some of whom are now witnesses against Gumede. They argue that the city’s reliance on Masama and SVZ was riddled with policy breaches in supply chain management.
Higher offices pulled into the dispute
The frustration has not stopped at the city level. The complainants also took their concerns to KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in August. According to the court filing, the provincial MEC has so far failed to act. This silence, they argue, weakens oversight by senior figures like the KZN finance executive, the Minister of Finance, and the CoGTA Minister, who depend on such reports to step in where necessary.
Saunders has warned that ignoring the complaints leaves the municipality exposed to further mismanagement. He stresses that accountability cannot be brushed aside because it undermines both public trust and the stability of municipal governance.
What happens next
The application has named 20 respondents, including eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni, Speaker Thabani Nyawose, senior officials, and councillors. They now have 45 days to respond.
This legal push is more than courtroom wrangling. It reflects broader concerns about financial governance in one of South Africa’s largest municipalities, where past scandals have already dented public confidence. With Gumede’s trial still unfolding, Durban residents are watching closely to see whether this latest move will bring clarity or deepen the sense of political mistrust.
Also read: Gauteng to Launch Political Killings Task Team After Surge in Violence
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Facebook/EThekwini Municipality
