KwaDukuza mayor Ali Ngidi is facing intense scrutiny after enduring a disastrous period for the municipality during his first six months in office.

Ngidi was elected on November 5 after his predecessor, Lindile Nhaca, was removed from the office and he has already faced an electricity crisis, the municipal embezzlement of R35.7-million and service delivery failures. This aside from specific allegations of misconduct relating to the hiring of personal security guards and municipal vehicles.

Negative public sentiment has become increasingly vocal, prompting intervention from the provincial ANC, of which Ngidi is a member.

“The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has noted with deep concern the various allegations of misconduct and improper behaviour levelled against the KwaDukuza Local Municipality (KDM) and some of its leaders,” said ANC provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi last week.

“The ANC has launched an urgent investigation to uncover the root of these allegations. The assessment is expected to be complete within the next seven working days. Thereafter the ANC will take decisive action in response.”

The investigation was welcomed by the regional chapter of the ANC Youth League, which called it “long overdue.”

“KDM has deviated from its constitutional mandate, with governance failures and systemic corruption undermining service delivery,” said ANCYL regional spokesperson, Thuthukani Dobe.

“At the heart of this crisis lies leadership that has prioritised self-interest over public duty, most notably mayor Muzi Ali Ngidi.”

Ngidi came under further pressure last Wednesday after a Pro Secure invoice for four full-time security guards at his residence was leaked. The March invoice detailed a bill of just over R173 000 – a cost KDM spokesperson Sifiso Zulu called necessary because of numerous threats to the mayor’s safety. Zulu said that prescribed tender processes had been followed.

The following day, KwaDukuza council heard a report that more than R497 000 had been spent hiring cars for the mayor and more than R527 000 for the deputy mayor between November and March. The report said that hiring cars was done as a temporary measure while KDM got advice on whether to buy new cars or make repairs to those already owned by the municipality.

As of March 7, the municipally owned cars had been repaired and the hiring stopped.

Neither KDM nor Ngidi responded to a request for comment.

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