For the past five years, Mbuso Ngcobo, chief whistle-blower in the R320m corruption case against former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, says he has survived three assassination attempts.
These include a shooting in 2018, an armed attack at his Inanda home in which his laptop and cellphone were stolen in 2020 and a mysterious car accident in April.
This was shortly after he gave evidence in March in the controversial case in which Gumede is alleged to be the kingpin of a racketeering “enterprise”.
With her in the dock are former ANC senior councillor Mondli Mthembu, Sandile Ngcobo, deputy head of supply chain management in the city, Robert Abbu, city deputy head of strategic and new developments, former municipal manager Sipho Nzuza, his wife, Cynthia Nzuza, and ANC councillors Mthokozisi Nojiyeza, Sduduzo Khuzwayo and Bhekokwakhe Phewa.
The other accused are Ilanga La Mahlase Pty Ltd, Uzuzinekele Trading, Omphile Thabang Projects, and El Shaddai Holdings Group and its representatives, which are accused of benefiting from the waste contract.
The state alleges Gumede and others manipulated the award of the contract to the four companies to promote radical economic transformation and to give kickbacks to a “patronage network” which included community-based contractors, business forums and the MKVA, who were aligned to the RET faction in the ANC.
Shortly before he was due to be cross-examined, Ngcobo fell ill and the trial was adjourned. He wasn’t recalled when the trial resumed in the Durban high court last week before judge Sharmaine Bolton — the same week he resigned as head of the City Integrity and Investigations Unit.
He told the Sunday Times the final straw came when his family was intimidated and at least three councillors warned him of a hit on his life, just before the trial restarted.
He said in December 2018 there was a well-publicised attack by armed men in his Hillcrest home, resulting in a gunfight between security guards and the attackers.
In 2020, armed men entered his home in Inanda and demanded he hand over investigation reports, but he says the men weren’t specific about what reports they wanted.
“I told them I don’t carry those with me. They made off with my laptop, cellphones ... everything. I had to report to the head of the IT department to replace the laptop and I had to open a case.”
He said on April 26 his car’s navigation system seemed to have been taken over, resulting in him crashing into a tower. He escaped with minor injuries.
He said he also received death threats but assumed that, as head of investigations, it was part of the job. He believed he would be safe because of his bodyguards.
“It’s not that we ignored [the threats]. I informed the head of security Dumisani Bhengu and we tried to sensitise my security.”
The threats intensified in June and he was told by three councillors about a hit that would be carried out before July. He said his family was intimidated and they had pleaded with him to resign.
Ngcobo said he couldn’t say who was behind the death threats because he was handling several investigations involving millions of rands.
“I’m a qualified forensic investigator so I base things on evidence. I don’t want to end up getting into trouble for something I don’t have evidence of. Since I don’t have any to suggest which case these [threats] are all linked to, it would be improper for me to speculate.”
He said the decision to resign from the well-paying job with no work lined up had been a tough one and he was now living in fear.
“I’ve been through a lot of trauma and I think for now I’ll just have to take stock and take things easy. I’m unemployed; I don’t know what’s next. Maybe I will figure it out after some time.”
The trial has been adjourned pending risk assessments to state witnesses after a city employee reported an attempted murder when shots were fired through a bedroom window at her home days before she was to give evidence.
Ngcobo said he had not been advised on whether he would have to continue his testimony amid the safety issue but would go ahead if he was recalled.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda did not respond to questions.
The city’s communications head Lindiwe Khuzwayo confirmed Ngcobo reported the theft of his laptop in 2020 and that he was receiving death threats. She said the city provided security for him and his home.
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