Suspended KwaZulu-Natal regional court president Eric Nzimande made his first appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday on corruption charges after he allegedly sold acting magistrate posts.

According to the indictment, Nzimande is alleged to have sought and accepted gratifications to the tune of R238 260 from attorneys he recommended for the acting positions between 2012 and 2015.

The indictment reads:

Thinake Lindelwa Zungu (Gumede), Fikile Gladys Luvuno (Luvuno), Zwelonke Welcome Ngwenya (Ngwenya), Yugen Naidoo (Naidoo), and Kisoon Ramasir (Ramasir) were among those appointed on the accused’s recommendation [to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services].

"The accused sought and received a gratification from these individuals either before, during, or shortly after their appointments."

Gumede, who was appointed as acting regional magistrate for a prolonged period, allegedly paid R140 000 to Nzimande between April 2012 and June 2015.

Luvuno, who acted as a magistrate in Vryheid allegedly paid R10 300 in 2015.

She had previously resigned from a permanent magistrate position.

Ngwenya who acted as a regional court magistrate "at different times in various places" allegedly paid R30 000 to Nzimande between 2013 and 2015.

Naidoo allegedly paid R11 010 to Nzimande between 2014 and 2015 after he was appointed in an acting magistrate position.

It is alleged that Ramasir paid R33 500 for acting magistrate roles between 2012 and 2015.

Nzimande was released on a warning and is expected to return to court on 20 May 2024.

In August this year, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Ronald Lamola told Parliament that his department had paid R6.3 million to Nzimande since his suspension in 2018.

Other matters

Nzimande is expected to face a disciplinary hearing from 22 January to 2 February 2024, on 162 charges.

A commission of inquiry into the allegations against him will be presided over by retired Supreme Court of Appeal judge Jeremiah Shongwe.