ANC purges scandal prone mayor and deputy in KwaDukuza shake-up
Image: KwaDukuza Municipality
IN less than a year after the election of a new mayor, KwaDukuza Municipality, on the north of KwaZulu-Natal finds itself without a mayor after the ANC's summary axing of its scandal-prone mayor, Ali Muzi Ngidi.
The reaction from opposition parties like uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the Democratic Alliance (MKP) is that of good riddance.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal led by the provincial task team co-ordinator, Michael Mabuyakhulu ordered Ngidi and his deputy to pay back the taxpayer's money following the highly-publicised luxury vehicle hire scandal.
Ngidi was elected eight months ago on November 4, following the ousting of mayor Lindile Nhaca who couldn't withstand pressure from the provincial structure of the ANC to vacate her position. She was removed on October 31, through a vote of no confidence.
Nhaca pleas to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to protect her from then-KZN ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo were unsuccessful.
Mtolo had explained her removal as part of the reconfiguration of the KwaDukuza municipality following the ANC's poor showing in the May elections last year.
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Ngidi was removed along with his deputy mayor Sicelinjabulo Cele. Both tendered their resignations yesterday under pressure from the provincial ANC.
The decision was announced at a briefing by Mabuyakhulu.
"Following the proper channels, they will continue with their jobs until they have been successfully replaced. We have also requested them to pay back some of the money used to hire vehicles for them from the time they started their term of office," he said.
Ngidi and Cele's removal follows an ANC probe into misconduct and financial mismanagement, including over R1 million spent on hired vehicles and a monthly security bill of R173,000 for the mayor.
Ngidi had been deputy mayor during Nhaca's tenure, and his brief stint as mayor was marked by a R35.7 million embezzlement from the municipal coffers, rolling power outages during the summer holidays in December, and a municipal workers' strike this week.
Mabuyakhulu didn't announce when the party would make a decision on the new leadership.
Soon after assuming office, it was reported a municipal vehicle which was part of the previous mayor's fleet was used as a school shuttle for Ngidi's children.
The ANC provincial spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, said the total cost to be paid by the mayor and Cele will be determined by the municipal council after a proper consolidation.
The two were alleged to have splurged on hired luxury vehicles when they assumed office, despite the availability of a roadworthy mayoral fleet, which included two BMW X3s with mileage of less than 70 000km. Ngidi further splurged on a Durban-based security firm by acquiring at least eight security who guarded his house around the clock.
The MKP's Ilembe Detachment Chairperson, Basil Ntuli, said: "We welcome and fully endorse this decision as it aligns with our long-standing concerns regarding the conduct and integrity of these individuals. For several months, the MK Party has been closely monitoring the actions of both the mayor and deputy mayor, whose conduct has repeatedly brought the name and governance of the KwaDukuza Municipality into disrepute."
Ntuli said the removal marked a necessary and overdue step towards restoring accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership within the municipality.
"The departure of these two individuals represents a turning point for KwaDukuza and provides an opportunity to refocus municipal priorities toward service delivery and community development," said Ntuli.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Regarding the first question, it depends on who provides the answer. To some, the answer is in the affirmative. They usually cite incidents such as the Nkandla gate. However, they fail to acknowledge that Zuma was already renovating his home using Minenhle Makhanya as his architect. They also overlook the role played by the security cluster, which was responsible for installing security features at Zuma's home. Fikile Mbalula, the current Secretary-General of the ANC, is on record saying that the ANC deliberately lied to the nation when it instructed Nathi Nhleko to state that the swimming pool at Zuma's homestead was a fire pool. The question is: how many other lies were manufactured behind closed doors? Did the Guptas have anything to do with that? These questions lead to the view shared by some that there was never any capture of the state by a few. There was corruption then as there is corruption now! On the second question, there is no debate that Zuma found the Guptas already embedded in the ANC. His predecessors interacted with this family in different contexts. Perhaps what changed under Zuma is that the Gupta brothers were more influential in making certain decisions. Surely, some of the allegations made against them remain just that – allegations, because they never presented their side of the story. The answer to the third question is an emphatic no! South Africa is not free from corruption, long after Madonsela's report was submitted. Even President Cyril Ramaphosa promised 'The New Dawn' and to correct the wrongs of the so-called 'nine wasted years' under Zuma, whom he deputised both in the ANC and in government. The Phala Phala matter made a mockery of the President's promise to end corruption. Although state institutions cleared him of any wrongdoing, the stigma remains. Nationally, statistics paint a bleak picture about ending corruption. The fourth question is even more important. Some money has been recovered, which is good. The NPA has understandably claimed victories. But it would be foolhardy to praise the fish for swimming. The NPA staff did what is expected of them. There is still more work to be done. Sadly, in some instances, the accusations do not seem to stick. This raises questions on whether there were cases against certain individuals in the first place or if there was character assassination for political expediency. The last question talks to the ANC, which has been the governing party since 1994 until May 2024. Historically, it is in the culture of the ANC to embrace 'collective responsibility'. It was intriguing when, suddenly, some ANC members (including those in leadership positions) claimed innocence or told the Zondo Commission that they were scared to stop corruption. This was a lame excuse.
