ANC orders KwaDukuza mayor to repay taxpayers’ money

Opposition parties in the embattled KwaDukuza Local Municipality north of KwaZulu-Natal have welcomed the removal of the mayor and his deputy as well as the instruction to pay back all the taxpayers’ money that the pair abused while in office.

On Wednesday evening, ANC provincial task team coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu summoned the party caucus, where he presented the report and the recommendations of the team that the party had appointed in April to investigate the reported abuse of privileges by both the mayor, Ali Ngidi and his deputy Njabulo Cele.

Besides removing the pair from their positions, the ANC also ordered them to pay back the money they splurged on luxury vehicles since assuming office in November without council approval. The report that was presented to council in April showed that from November to February the mayor had spent R497,180,10 while his deputy had spent R527,720,13 which meant the municipality was paying R17,590 on the vehicle hire. 

Furthermore, the ANC ordered Ngidi to pay for fuel use of the mayoral car which was used to transport his family, particularly his children to school. 

Ngidi will also have to pay for the security firm that guarded his home- this was also not approved by the council. It was reported that the Durban-based security company was billing the municipality R173,000 for eight guards that were stationed at the mayor’s house day and night. It is not clear for how long the company had guarded his home.

Reacting to the ANC’s announcement on Wednesday, the DA’s caucus leader Privi Makhan said her party welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue.

“The DA in KwaDukuza welcomes the long-overdue removal of former Mayor Ali Ngidi, whose time in office was marked by scandal, arrogance, and a blatant disregard for the people he was elected to serve. Over the last eight months, Mayor Ngidi brought the Office of the Mayor into utter disrepute. Under his watch, service delivery collapsed and basic municipal functions deteriorated while he embarked on a relentless pursuit to support events and vanities designed to boost his personal image,” said Makhan

Also weighing in, ActionSA councillor Halalisani Ndlovu said his party was vindicated by the ANC decision that the mayor and his deputy must pay back the money they used illegally. He said his party had been calling for the docking of the mayor and his deputy's salaries because the hiring of luxury vehicles was never approved by the council.

“For now we know they have to pay just over a million for care hire costs and we are still waiting for a full report on the security company costs and mayoral car fuel costs that was used by the mayor’s family. I think the mayor alone will pay more than a million,” said Ndlovu.

ANC spokesperson Fanle Sibisi said the total costs to be paid by the mayor and his deputy will be determined by the council after proper consolidation.

Sibisi said that the two will remain in their positions while the council processes their replacements.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za