Latest news with #MuziNgidi
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Tensions rise in KwaDukuza as mayor faces backlash over cancelled public meetings on municipal budget
KwaDukuza Municipality Mayor Muzi Ngidi has hit back at the DA saying he does not need a lecture on his statutory obligations. Image: KwaDukuza Municipality/Facebook A political spat has erupted in KwaDukuza Municipality over the mayor's alleged failure to attend scheduled public meetings on the draft budget and Integrated Development Plan, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) accusing Mayor Muzi Ngidi of neglecting his statutory obligations. DA KwaDukuza caucus leader Privi Makhan said the party had written to the director for Public Participation, the Office of the Speaker, and the municipal manager following the concerning fact that 'only 19 out of 27 scheduled public meetings on the annual draft budget and Integrated Development Plan have taken place.' 'With the public participation process now closed, we are demanding clarity on how these communities were consulted on the draft budget process,' she stated. Makhan dismissed the notion that public meetings are ceremonial, asserting: 'These imbizos are not ceremonial niceties. They are the few remaining spaces where residents, many frustrated by poor service delivery can engage leadership and demand answers.' 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ She accused Mayor Ngidi of cancelling or avoiding meetings at the last minute and instead prioritising ceremonial appearances: In response, Mayor Ngidi issued a strongly worded statement titled 'Mayor of KwaDukuza needs no lecture on his statutory obligations,' pushing back against Makhan's remarks. 'She accuses the mayor of neglecting one of the crucial platforms meant to ensure public accountability. She seems to believe that my absence from these public meetings symbolises a rejection of my mandate, rather than a clash in my schedule of activities,' said Ngidi. He stated that several meetings had been cancelled for reasons beyond his control, such as poor weather, low attendance, or clashes with other activities. 'Some of the meetings were cancelled due to guidance from ward councillors who advised that the meetings would not attract the desired number of participants. Some were cancelled due to poor attendance. Some were cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions,' he explained. Ngidi said he had since instructed officials to reschedule meetings to ensure public input is gathered.
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
#TwoBits: Mayoral absence does not make the heart grow fonder
Dolphin Coast residents are fed up. Over season and the New Year they suffered 83 days of power cuts in addition to the normal mode of numerous blacked out streetlights, traffic lights not working, potholed streets and, and, and. Mayor Muzi Ngidi called an imbizo to explain his council's budget. So the residents showed up – more than 600 people, the largest turnout ever in local history. The Umhlali school hall overflowed, they stood in the rain to hear explanations for KwaDukuza's poor performance. But the mayor was not there. He wasn't well, officials said. Strangely enough, he had been in full health throughout the day at council, according to numerous witnesses. Then he developed this mysterious illness. Shem. The deputy mayor and officials then proceeded to conduct a constructive meeting, but many residents said the mayor's no-show was disrespectful. It was brought to the attention of the meeting that council is refusing to meet with the Dolphin Coast civic body, Doccra. That is a great pity. The residents' association has worked long and hard to form a constructive relationship with council. On what grounds the relationship has foundered is unclear, though it is suspected that internal ANC politics is at the root. The simple truth is that Docrra represents 30 000 households, which contribute more than a couple of billion Rands to council coffers. Is it asking too much to be civil to your biggest customer? KwaDukuza's erratic leadership is already under close scrutiny from the electricity regulator, Nersa, and the local government ministry, Cogta. Not helped by the – oops! – theft of R35.7 million from council earlier this year. The ANC in iLembe district is on very shaky ground. In round figures, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party took 45 percent of the vote last year, from zero, compared to the ANC's 17 percent, down from 54 percent. That is a massive kick in the pants. The region's general population have already given the ANC the thumbs down for arrogance and poor service delivery. Expect more of the same in the 2026 local government elections if they don't smarten up. To change the subject slightly and give some light relief, wasn't it mind-boggling to listen to all the political parties squabbling over who was responsible for stopping the VAT increase! Looters running out of shopping malls with TVs on their heads do so with more dignity. The cherry on the cake was Mr Fixf*k*l Mbalula saying that the ANC had been against it! I suppose if you lie enough, someone will believe you. In my view, the DA and the EFF were solely responsible for stopping it. Never thought I'd agree with anything Julius did. But he did save his reputation right after that by proposing that Treasury get extra cash with an 'apartheid wealth tax'. Yeah right, Ju-Ju! * * * Where do bad rainbows go? To prism. It's a light sentence, but it gives them time to reflect. 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!
