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IOL News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Security scandal puts Ali Ngidi's position as KwaDukuza mayor at risk
The KwaDukuza Municipality is under ANC scrutiny after security tender scandal. 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.
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Mayor's R173k monthly security bill sparks outcry in KwaDukuza
A leaked municipal invoice detailing a R173 068.61 monthly personal security cost for KwaDukuza mayor Ali Ngidi drew widespread community criticism earlier this week. The invoice, which included the cost of four Pro Secure security guards for 24-hour protection at the mayor's residence for March, ignited a fierce debate about municipal spending. Security costs have often been a controversial topic in council, where opposition councillors have long lobbied for specific line items to detail how the R4-million monthly spend is allocated, but have been blocked. The municipality's security tender was also flagged in the last auditor-general report. While confirming the mayor's invoice amount as accurate, KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) spokesperson Sifiso Zulu said the cost was within the municipality's prescribed tender processes. 'The security service is procured in accordance with the annual notice gazetted by the Minister for the Determination of Upper Limits of salaries, allowances and benefits for different members of a Municipal Council,' he said. 'The contract in which Pro Secure was appointed by KwaDukuza Municipality was done through a competitive bidding process. The tender was awarded in compliance with the municipality's Supply Chain Management Policy.' Pro Secure has been KDM's sole security provider for a few years and also endured some recent controversy when company owner Ferrell Govender was arrested in connection to an Umhlanga murder in January. 'Any legal challenges or criminal charges against the director of Pro Secure do not invalidate the contract entered into with Pro Secure and KwaDukuza municipality,' said Zulu. 'Contract law has its own requirements for the validity of a contract. The municipality confirms that at the time of the appointment, there was no adverse report in the data base of National Treasury in respect of Pro Secure.' As for the need for four full time security guards, Zulu said it was 'common cause' that numerous threats had been made against the mayor. 'Some of these issues are in the records of the local police station, and some are before court. It is also public knowledge that there are other councillors whose residences are protected by security personnel, due to threats that have been reported,' he said. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
