The trial of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and 21 others who face several charges including corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multimillion-rand Durban Solid Waste (DSW) deal will resume in the Durban High Court today.

The trial, that started last week Monday, revealed that the state listed 112 witnesses with the first witness taking the stand on March 7.

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Mbuso Ngcobo, the head of the city integrity and investigation unit (CIIU), testified that his unit received information about the fraud allegations through an anonymous ‘walk-in’.

He said that a thick file containing all the information and proof of the corrupt activities was received in 2018, and from 2018 to 2019 an external forensics company called Integrity Forensic Services (IFS) investigated the matter on behalf of the municipality.

The defence attorneys representing the accused requested that the file be presented as evidence.

Ngcobo was also expected to provide the internal report, minutes of meetings about the investigation and mandate/scope of investigation issued to IFS from Ngcobo.

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The other accused include municipal officials, former city manager, Sipho Nzuza, ANC councillor Mondli Mthembu, the deputy head of Durban Solid Waste (DSW), Robert Abbu, and the deputy head of supply chain management, Sandile Ngcobo.

They face charges including conspiracy to commit corruption, corruption, fraud, money laundering, racketeering, contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act and contravention of the Municipal Systems Act amounting to more than R300 million.

The companies accused in the case are Omphile Thabang Projects, Ilanga LaMahlase Projects Pty Ltd, Uzuzinekele Trading 31 CC and El Shaddai Holdings Group.

This week, the second witness Raymond Rampersad, is expected to take the stand.

Rampersad was the former eThekwini DSW head. According to the state, he will reveal how accused 4, Abbu, was responsible for the initiation of the process for the new DSW special project/tender which was to get contractors to collect waste and help with the illegal dumping problems especially in townships.