Former Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda is now a free man as the state provisionally withdrew corruption and fraud charges against him and his co-accused Mduduzi Zondi. The pair appeared at the Protea Glen Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in scamming some Soweto residents money from an alleged  funeral policy scheme he ran in Soweto in 2011.

NO EVIDENCE 

Attorney for Gwamanda and his co-accused, Gregory Armstrong, said that the state failed to solidify their case with concrete evidence for prosecution despite having almost a year to do so. 

"Where did it fall apart? They never had sufficient evidence. I sat with the senior prosecutor on the last occasion and went through the docket and it was in such a disorganised state, it was impossible for them to put together .There were bank statements for incorrect entities, there were missing documents- I don't think the matter has ever been ripe for trial."

A POLITICAL ATTACK 

Speaking to the media after court proceedings, Gwamanda said this case came as a political attack against him hence the NPA's case was weak.

"The state had no choice but to withdraw the case because, as indicated previously, there is no evidence that points to any activities of fraud. It is an issue of a political attack."

Gwamanda previously said, "It's quite important for us to understand that unfortunately I do not represent the right demographic. I represent those that are perceived as criminal, the people that look like me have to be demonised, criminalised and their names dragged in the mud, so that we stop inspiring those who represent in a practical manner."