ANC purges scandal prone mayor and deputy in KwaDukuza shake-up

IOL News

2 days ago

THE ANC has instructed the axed mayor of KwaDukuza Ali Ngidi to repay taxpayer's money after splurging on luxury vehicle car hire and 24-hour security guards at his house.
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.