TimesLIVE reports that a shot was fired over the weekend through the bedroom window of a key witness in the trial of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and others.

The witness, who is an official in the solid waste department, was set to testify in the racketeering, fraud, corruption and money laundering case on Monday. But prosecutor Ashika Lucken told Durban High Court judge Sharmaine Balton that after the incident at 6.30am on Saturday, while the witness and her relatives were unharmed, she needed time to “compose herself”. As a result of the shooting, which has been reported to the police and is under investigation, the other municipal officials who were set to testify had “inundated” the investigating officer with calls of concern about their safety. Lucken said the police were now trying to put in place “certain measures” to allay their fears and to “calm the situation down”. “I can’t specify what those steps will be. But it will take time,” she said. Advocate Jimmy Howse, for accused Sandile Ngcobo, the deputy head of supply chain management at the city, placed on record that there was no allegation by the state that any of the accused were believed to be involved in the attack on the witnesses home. Balton adjourned the trial until Wednesday, when Lucken is expected to give a progress report and the way forward will be determined. Gumede, as accused No 1, is alleged to be the kingpin of a racketeering “enterprise”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE

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