Security scandal puts Ali Ngidi's position as KwaDukuza mayor at risk
Image: Facebook
Barely six months after being appointed as the mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality, on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Ali Ngidi's job appears to be on the line as the team appointed by his party, the ANC, to investigate allegations of abuse of power is wrapping up its work.
The team that is already on the ground gathering information on how the municipality secured a security contract to protect the mayor's house without the council's approval and police threat assessment is expected to wrap up its investigation by the end of the week.
The party's investigation was prompted by the leaked March invoice, where the Durban-based security company was billing the municipality for monthly costs of eight guards who are protecting the mayor's house 24 hours a day.
However, the opposition parties denied any knowledge of the security threats to the mayor, which could have led the council to approve his home protection at such a high cost.
The leaked invoice revealed that the municipality was parting with R173 000 a month for the mayor's home protection.
Sources within the General Gizenga Mpanza region, which KwaDukuza falls under, said it will be a miracle if Ngidi remains in his position as the party desperately wants to redeem itself for next year's local government elections.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that since Ngidi's appointment in November, the municipality has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons and is at the centre of almost every negative story.
'If you look at the provincial task team's statement last week when it announced that it was launching an investigation, it said that this security contract matter and other allegations circulating on social and other media platforms are quite troubling for the ANC as they directly conflict with the party's renewal and rebuilding programme.
'So if found that the procedure to procure the contract was not followed, the ANC will remove it immediately,' said the source.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
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.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The regional secretary, Siphesihle Zulu, appeared to be concurring with the source's view on the future of the municipality leadership.
Zulu said the ANC will not hesitate to take corrective measures to the satisfaction of the people of KwaDukuza if the investigation reveals any wrongdoing on all these matters that have been in the public domain about the municipality leadership.
'We can confirm that the team that was appointed by the provincial leadership last week hit the ground running immediately. We are expecting its report soon, it's just that there were many holidays in between the seven days it was allocated to finish its work. We want to assure the people of KwaDukuza that the ANC will take firm and corrective measures if the investigative team recommends them,' said Zulu.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
22 minutes ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa's spokesperson to brief the nation on the president's agenda amid National Dialogue backlash
President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya will address the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on matters of national interest following mounting criticism of the upcoming National Dialogue. Image: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, is expected to address the media at the Union Buildings on Thursday afternoon to provide updates on the President's agenda and discuss pressing national matters, which might include the controversial National Dialogue. The National Dialogue, scheduled to take place in Pretoria on August 15 and 16, has drawn widespread criticism from political parties, civil society groups, and legacy foundations. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), both members of the Government of National Unity (GNU), have withdrawn from the dialogue, accusing the ANC of using the process to bolster its support ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Tensions within the GNU have been evident since its formation following the May 2024 general elections. The DA, the second-largest party in the GNU, has clashed with the ANC over several policy positions. Some political analysts argue that the DA continues to operate as an opposition party, while the ANC is accused of behaving as though it still holds a ruling majority, despite falling short of one in the last election. ActionSA also announced on Wednesday that it will not formally participate in the National Dialogue, citing unresolved concerns about the process and the legality of its funding. However, the party will send two senior Members of Parliament, Dr Kgosi Letlape and Lerato Ngobeni, to attend in an observer capacity. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading ActionSA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip said that the party is dissatisfied with the dialogue's organisation, particularly the lack of meaningful engagement with stakeholders and parliamentary committees, especially regarding the budgeting of the event. 'ActionSA remains unconvinced that any of the concerns raised by key stakeholders, organisers, and the broader public have been addressed,' Trollip said. 'There is an insistence on forging ahead despite serious, unresolved questions, particularly regarding the lawful appropriation of the budget, a matter on which no parliamentary committee has been duly engaged.' He confirmed the two MPs attending the event would do so at their own expense and with a strict mandate to assess whether the convention is a meaningful platform for reform or simply an electioneering exercise misusing public funds. Last week on Friday, several prominent legacy foundations also withdrew from the process. These include the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, WDB Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group. In a joint statement, the organisations said the decision was taken with 'deep regret' but was necessary to protect the credibility and integrity of the process. They accused the organisers of shifting the initiative from its original citizen-led approach towards government control. 'What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately in practice shifted towards government control,' the statement read. Lobby groups AfriForum and Solidarity have also pulled out of the dialogue. Earlier this week, Reverend Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu, spokesperson for the National Convention organising committee, responded to criticism over the reported R700 million budget for the dialogue. He clarified that the figure was a draft proposal prepared by a preparatory task team and not an official government allocation. 'You see, the budget that people were talking about, the R700m and so on, was a budget prepared by the preparatory task team. It's not a government budget,' he said in a media briefing on Monday. Nevhutalu explained that the funding framework envisions 60% of the costs being covered by the government through the fiscus, with the remaining 40% to come from private donors, businesses, and civil society, including in-kind contributions such as venue provision from churches and municipalities. 'Civil society has already done a lot,' Nevhutalu said. He argued that the National Dialogue is a 'people's project' and not solely a government initiative. IOL Politcs
IOL News
22 minutes ago
- IOL News
Committee to finalise terms of reference to probe Mkhwanazi's explosive SAPS claims
Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee will meet Thursday to finalise its Terms of Reference for the investigation into explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, tasked with investigating serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is scheduled to meet on Thursday to finalise and adopt its Terms of Reference. ANC Member of Parliament Molapi Soviet Lekganyane, who was appointed as chairperson last week, will lead the committee in examining the claims made by Mkhwanazi, which include accusations of political interference and operational sabotage within the South African Police Service (SAPS). Political parties were given until last Friday to submit their proposed inputs to ensure that the Terms of Reference reflect a broad and representative range of perspectives. However, EFF leader Julius Malema expressed concerns that the draft Terms of Reference had not yet been circulated to all parties. In a letter to committee chairperson Lekganyane, Malema noted that the committee had agreed to circulate the draft by the end of Tuesday to allow timely submissions by Friday, August 8, 2025. He questioned the delay and requested details on the management committee responsible for drafting the Terms and the legal professionals involved, stressing the importance of handling the sensitive matter with seriousness. Due to Parliament's recess, members agreed to relocate committee operations to Gauteng in August to facilitate its work.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
'We don't need your racist views' at National Dialogue, Panyaza tells AfriForum, Solidarity
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has hit back at Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum for withdrawing from the National Dialogue Convention. AfriForum, Solidarity and Solidarity Movement withdrew from the National Dialogue accusing the African National Congress (ANC)-led government of hijacking the dialogue and degenerating it into a government-driven national monologue. The decision also comes as other legacy foundations, including those bearing the names of Thabo Mbeki, Desmond Tutu, Oliver Tambo, and Chief Albert Luthuli, have formally withdrawn from the upcoming National Dialogue Convention, scheduled for Friday, 15 August. In a joint statement released on Friday, 8 August, the legacy foundations cited serious concerns over breaches of key principles governing the National Dialogue process. These include government overreach, a rushed timeline, lack of transparency, and financial instability – factors they say undermine the credibility and original citizen-driven spirit of the event. Despite withdrawing from the 15 August event, the foundations emphasised that they are not abandoning the broader National Dialogue project. On Tuesday, 12 August, AfriForum took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that they have also withdrawn from the dialogue. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the crisis the country is currently in is due to the ANC's failed policies, mismanagement and corruption. Kriel said they are the cause of the problems and, therefore, they cannot be trusted to lead the process of finding solutions. In response, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi accused the lobby groups of being racist. 'Who's next? Thanks for not attending, we honestly don't need your racist views,' he posted on X. Unsurprisingly, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, Flip Buys, said national discussions are essential to find solutions to the country's pressing crises, but everything indicates that the National Dialogue at this stage will only result in more useless discussions, instead of action. 'The reason for this is that it appears that the ANC wants to hijack the intended the dialogue to try to win back lost support, rather than find answers to the crises. 'Therefore, the Solidarity Movement supports the various foundations that have decided not to attend the dialogue on Friday, and we will not be there either. There is no point in putting the party responsible for the decline in the country in charge of the National Dialogue,' he said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
