City of uMhlathuze mayor awaits final court judgment

City of uMhlathuze Mayor Xolani Ngwezi faces two counts of crimen injuria

May 8, 2026

Muzi Zincume 2 minutes read

City Mayor Xolani Ngwezi PHOTO: uMhlathuze/FB

uMhlathuze Mayor Xolani Ngwezi made a brief appearance at the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, with the matter postponed to Monday, 27 May for finalisation.

Ngwezi faces two counts of crimen injuria emanating from an interview with 1KZN TV on 11 March last year.

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The complainants, Cyril Paton and ANC PR Councillor Phiwe Mhlongo, were both aggrieved by utterances made by Ngwezi during the interviews.

Ngwezi was charged on 18 June and appeared in court on 24 June, where the previous State prosecutor did not enrol the matter owing to insufficient evidence. The case was later enrolled on 3 October.

During the TV interviews in question, Ngwezi is alleged to have called Paton an ‘ex-convict’, and one who had been convicted of illegal possession of firearms.

Paton’s company is contracted to the City of uMhlathuze to provide security services.

Cllr Mhlongo, who is also an Exco member in the City of uMhlathuze, accused Ngwezi of calling him ‘a corrupt young man’.

The controversy began when the municipality terminated the contract of the security services company owned by Paton.

The termination was resolved after Paton challenged the matter in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, and his company was reinstated before the matter was heard in the High Court.

During court proceedings, scores of IFP and ANC supporters were outside court to support their respective leaders.

Ngwezi addressed his supporters outside court on Thursday.

He said the IFP in the City of uMhlathuze and KZN would work hard to ensure they run municipalities without the ANC.

“That work does not start today, it started in 2021.We mentioned that we would remove [the ANC] from power. After removing them from power, we discovered a lot of wrongdoings. Others went as far as confessing in court that they do not hold tertiary qualifications.

“When you fight corruption, people turn against you as they know you might find irregularities,” he said.
Member of the ANC Provincial Task Team, Thembeka Mchunu told the ANC supporters that they were happy with the way in which the State prosecutor presented the case in court.

“We are positive that Ngwezi will be convicted. He insulted innocent people without evidence.

“I think we will get justice so we will be able to assist this municipality. We used to hear that municipalities do not have money, but we wish to invite Cogta Portfolio Committee Dr Zweli Mkhize to get close to this municipality.

“As residents of uMhlathuze, it is painful that one day you do not have water, and sometimes you don’t have electricity. The city is dirty and when asked, they would say they do not have diesel,” she said.

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