2nd councillor accused of stealing JoJo tanks meant for water relief in Ladysmith

Opposition parties say that what happened to the Ward 15 councillor should also happen to Ward 24 councillor Sindi Nxumalo.

The Ward 15 councillor was arrested on April 30 after being suspected of stealing two JoJo tanks that were meant for water relief in the community of Peacetown. He was released on bail on May 1 and his court case is coming up on July 28.

Cllr Sindi Nxumalo (Ward 24) has now also been accused of stealing JoJo tanks meant for water relief in the community of Lusitania. This comes after a photograph showing four JoJo tanks in the councillor’s yard went viral on social media.

“The law should not be lenient on the Ward 24 councillor. She should also be arrested, just like the Ward 15 councillor who is accused of stealing JoJo tanks. As the National People’s Ambassador (NPA), we are saying that any councillor who is accused of stealing from their communities should be dealt with accordingly up until they are proven innocent in court,” said Nathi Mthethwa from the NPA.

A Ladysmith journalist conducted a telephonic interview with the Ward 24 councillor, who said that two of the JoJo tanks seen at her home are indeed meant for water relief. However, she claims that she has had the other two tanks for a long time and uses them to make blocks at her home.

“Out of the four JoJo tanks, two of them are meant for water relief, but I have moved them to the kwaSondoda area, as people have been complaining that I have four JoJo tanks at my home. The other two tanks I use to make building blocks at my home,” explained Cllr Nxumalo.