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.
Xolile Nqata has been appointed the acting Health MEC in her place.
Gomba is accused of involvement in fraud, corruption and money-laundering related to Madiba’s 2013 funeral. I engaged Miss Gomba on the findings of the SIU report and, in light of the charges, she s facing after the NPA re-enrolled the charges, Mabuyane said. I have taken the decision to relieve Sindiswa Gomba of her duties as the member of the executive council for the department of health.