The provincial task team of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has fired the controversial mayor of the KwaDukuza local municipality and his deputy.
The decision follows a string of scandals by Ali Ngidi and Njabulo Cele since they assumed office in November 2024, when the then provincial secretary, Bheki Mtolo, ousted the former mayor, Lindiwe Nhaca, based on unfounded allegations.
Controversy followed the two as soon as they took office. One controversy was the decision to dump the official mayoral fleet and hire new cars for their official use.
In another scandal, the official back-up car, which was deemed to be unroadworthy, was later seen used by Ngidi’s wife for personal errands like shopping and ferrying their kids to school.
Municipality is footing the bill
It later emerged in April that the municipality was paying R173 000 a month to a controversial Durban-based security company, Pro-Secure, to guard the private home of Ngidi.
According to a leaked invoice, the security companies provided 10 guards to guard the home around the clock.
Five of the armed guards work during the day, and the other five work at night.
That excludes the other five bodyguards from another security company who walk around with the mayor wherever he goes.
The company named CPO charges R35 000 every month for each security provided. This means every month, the municipality pays R175 000, excluding value-added tax, to CPO to guard the mayor.
In total, Ngidi had about 15 bodyguards who were assigned to guard him, and they are paid for by the municipality that has been rocked by allegations of corruption in the past few months.
That excludes the dubious sponsorship deals the municipality entered into under Ngidi’s watch.
Mabuyakhulu cracks the whip
After that, the ANC announced that it would initiate an investigation and act if there is evidence of wrongdoing.
Mike Mabuyakhulu, the ANC’s provincial coordinator, led the party to KwaDukuza on Wednesday to recall Ngidi and Cele.
Mabuyakhulu stated that both Ngidi and Cele have already submitted their resignation letters, but they will remain in office until they find their replacements.
He also said the ANC has resolved that Ngidi and Cele should pay back the money spent to hire the cars between the period they started using them and the period the council officially approved the item.
Ngidi will also have to pay the municipality for the costs incurred while his wife used the municipal back-up car for personal errands.
“On that matter, we ruled that all the costs incurred during the period will fall on him, and he has to cater for that,” Mabuyakhulu said.
DA applauds Ngidi’s sacking
The DA in the council applauded Ngidi’s dismissal, stating that his lack of teamwork and desire to assume executive mayor powers were evident from the moment he took office.
“Most damning were his roles in championing questionable financial decisions, the vehicle hire scandal, and his glaring absence when the people needed bold and ethical leadership the most.
“His short-lived legacy will be one of handshakes and his attempts to position himself as an executive mayor through his ongoing attempts to take unilateral decisions to the detriment of the council,” said Privi Markan, the caucus leader of the DA in the council.
