The case against former City of Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has once again been postponed pending full disclosure and a trial readiness certificate. Gwamanda appeared briefly in the Protea Magistrate's Court, accompanied by supporters who labelled him a kasi hero.
AN AGENDA
Gwamanda handed himself over to Protea SAPS last year following media reports that he scammed some Soweto residents of money from an alleged funeral policy scam he ran in the township in 2011. Addressing the media, after court proceedings, Gwamanda said he hopes that this postponement is marked final. "On the previous appearance, we reserved our right to go to trial and that is just a demonstration of our willingness to cooperate with the judiciary. I'm told that there is full disclosure that is pending but there is a trial readiness certificate that is not here; instead, we heard that it's the chief state prosecutor who was supposed to sign it off, but that hasn't been done," he said. Gwamanda joked that it seemed the only reason he came to court was to talk to the media and greet the magistrate. "We need 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 practically."
HE SAYS IF HE WAS GUILTY, SOWETANS WOULD HAVE BURNT HIS FAMILY HOME
The former mayor explained that at the time of its inception, the alleged funeral Ponzi scheme "Ithemba Lama Afrika" hosted their meetings at his mother's house. "I volunteered my mother's house. I live in Soweto and if you steal anything or do wrong, the community in Soweto would have made a typical example. My mother's house would've burnt down a long time ago. However, it's still standing. I don't need bodyguards as I walk freely because what I did was to empower the community, not what the media is trying to drive. I should be having injuries from mob attacks because I cannot defraud people and still live within their community." Gwamanda said some people are trying to use those who are closest to him to try and bring him down. Gwamanda will be back in court on the 20 February.
