Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has fired embattled Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba after she was charged with corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act in connection with the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal.
Gomba was a senior councillor in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) in the province when the alleged fraud was committed. Millions of rands were allegedly siphoned from the municipal coffers under the guise of being used for the Mandela memorial and funeral services.
An Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report which singled out Gomba for wrongdoing in the R100 million controversial motorbike procurement also influenced Mabuyane’s decision to fire her.
Eastern Cape Health MEC fired over R10m Mandela funeral fraud saga
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba is one of several suspects implicated in corruption charges related to the funeral of Nelson Mandela
The Eastern Cape’s Premier Oscar Mabuyane has announced he has decided to axe his Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba. This comes after she was charged with fraud and corruption relating to monies allegedly taken from the funeral of late President Nelson Mandela in 2013.
“I have taken a decision to relieve Ms Sindiswa Gomba of her duties as the Member of Executive Council (MEC) for the Department of Health. The decision to relieve Ms Gomba as MEC will allow her time and space to attend to the case against her. This decision is in the best interest of the MEC and the provincial government,” Mabuyane announced on Thursday, February 18, 2021.
Confronted by a push from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for action and renewed charges of her alleged involvement in fraud with the money set aside for the late president Nelson Mandela’s funeral, a worried-looking Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane fired his Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba on Thursday morning.
He said he did so to allow Gomba time to prepare for the criminal case brought against her relating to the Mandela funeral funds.
Mabuyane said the SIU had recommended that he take action against Gomba and the former head of the Department of Health, Dr Thobile Mbengashe for their part in the R10-million scandal-riddled procurement of medical scooters for the province.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba will continue in her job until she is fired by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, her spokesperson Judy Ngoloyi said on Monday.
“The MEC, as a cadre and a deployee of the ANC, will rely on the decision by the ANC and through the premier in this case,” Ngoloyi said after being asked if the MEC plans to step down from her position “This matter is being handled by the ANC in the province and by the Office of the Premier and therefore the MEC is not able to comment,” she said.
Ngoloyi said the MEC considered the charges against her as well as the evidence before a Special Tribunal with regard to the medical scooters as
Prominent EC politicians appear in court for fraud and corruption! Sandiso Phaliso
Comments ANC in the Eastern Cape to decide on MEC of Health Sindiswa Gomba s future. Photo by Luvuyo Mehlwana .
EASTERN Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and 11 other accused were released on bail after briefly appearing on charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act linked to the Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) Nelson Mandela Funeral scandal.
Gomba, Phumzile Mkolo, Zukiswa Veronica Ncitha, Themba Tinta, Luleka Simon-Ndzele, Tembelani Prideaux Sali, Ondela Vatile Mahlangu, Viwe Vazi, Zintle Nkuhlu (a trustee of the Lilly Rose Trust), Nosiphiwo Mati and Nqaba Ludidi were granted bail at the East London Regional Court.