An urgent interim interdict has been granted by Judge King Ndlovu against former Ward 4 Councillor, Bheki Ngobese (who resigned earlier this year) and still-suspended Municipal Manager Thabani Biyela.
The interdict requests that Mr Ngobese and Mr Biyela answer as to why municipal property, including a block-making machine, a sewing and embroidery machine and other computer equipment, have not been returned to the municipality.
According to the interdict, ‘if both Ngobese and Biyela fail to comply the sheriff will be authorised to take steps to recover the items, with the help of police’. They were also ordered not to dispose of any of the property. It is alleged that the municipality equipment was stored at Mr Biyela’s home in Sibongile.
Dudu Ncala, who won the vacant Ward 4 for the ANC following Mr Ngobese’s resignation, and another municipal official, were previously dispatched to fetch the equipment. However, charges of crimen injuria and intimidation were opened after it was alleged that Mr Ngobese threatened to shoot them, and later insulted them at a meeting in the deputy mayor’s office.

When asked to comment, Mr Ngobese told the Courier that the matter was ‘sub-judice’, and did not want to ‘answer allegations from the press’.
He said acting Municipal Manager SP Zulu had ‘banned’ him from the municipal building, and that (the press) ‘should investigate this’.

Municipality’s reaction
In his reaction, acting Municipal Manager SP Zulu told the Courier that ‘as head of the administration of the institution it is upon myself to ensure that all employees of the municipality are safe and can discharge their responsibilities with diligence and without fear’.

“All employees of the municipality therefore become my responsibility, and they are accountable to my office. If Mr Ngobese intimidates any of the employees it becomes my responsibility to ensure that such intimidation does not repeat itself; hence I instructed security to ensure that Mr Ngobese does not enter the building. The security of all employees is of paramount importance, and I must ensure a conducive environment for all employees.
“However, Mr Ngobese may access the building if accompanied by security personnel.

He must indicate why he wants to enter the building and get authorisation to do so (because of his previous behaviour), and nothing else. And he has himself to blame for this control measure.
“The issue here is to balance the safety of employees and access by individuals to the municipal building for legitimate purposes.”