Update

GEORGE NEWS - The fraud trial of former ANC secretary of the Southern Cape, Mzwanele Major Sokopo, and Ndileka Mfunda from Port Elizabeth will continue on 7 December.

Sokopo (45) and Mfunda (52) pleaded not guilty on 49 charges (main and alternative counts) pertaining to fraud and failure to register for Value Added Tax (Vat). Their former company, Major General Trading CC, forms part of the list of accused in its capacity as a legal business.

The trial started last Monday and continued for the whole week. One of the state witnesses, a former audit specialist of Sars, testified over a period of two days. Technical detail was scrutinised by the defence attorneys. One last witness still needs to testify when the trial continues in December. Load shedding caused a delay in the proceedings, since the court operates without a generator.

Last Friday morning, when it became evident that the court will need more time to finish the trial, Sokopo spoke to George Herald before the start of the day's proceedings. "It will be the first time since 1994 that I won't be part of the elections," he said.

"My heart is green, black and gold. I talk to people everywhere I go about the ANC and why it's the best idea to vote for us. It was resolved that I would step down until the court case has finished, so not being able to participate in the election [in October] is a huge mind shift for me." 

He said he looks forward to the matter being resolved and misses his activism in the ANC. Currently Aseza Ngungubele is acting in the position of ANC secretary of the Southern Cape.