25-04-2025
KwaDukuza mayor too sick to attend budget imbizo
KwaZulu-Natal north coast residents came out in their numbers to demand answers from the KwaDukuza district municipality and oppose a rates hike at a budget imbizo on Thursday night but the mayor and municipal manager were a no-show.
Residents from greater Ballito, Salt Rock, Sheffield Beach and Shakas Rock packed the hall at Umhlali Prep School to raise concerns about the 9.33% rates increase, power outages and abuse of municipal resources.
On Friday KwaDukuza municipal spokesperson Sifiso Zulu said mayor Muzi 'Ali' Ngidi was booked off sick.
'Yesterday [Thursday] KwaDukuza municipality had its ordinary council meeting. The mayor had to leave the meeting just before it was adjourned to consult his physician. He was then booked off and, therefore, requested the deputy mayor to represent him at the imbizo,' he said.
The mayor came under fire recently when it emerged the municipality was paying more than R173,000 a month for private security at his personal residence.
