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KwaDukuza deputy mayor Scelinjalbulo Cele(L) and Mayor, Ali Ngidi. (R)
Residents of the KwaDukuza Municipality, north of Durban, have mixed reactions about the news that the African National Congress (ANC) has decided to remove the mayor, Ali Ngidi, and deputy mayor, Scelinjalbulo Cele, from office. The decision by the ANC’s provincial task team comes after allegations of irregularities.
Some believe that the mayor and his deputy were targeted because they opposed corruption, while others say the mayor is incompetent.
KwaDukuza has been a hung municipality since the 2021 local government elections when the ANC lost its majority. The Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), ActionSA and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are among the parties represented in council.
This is the third time in five years that a mayor has been removed from office. The latest move comes after allegations that over R1-million was spent on hired vehicles, and a R173 000 monthly security bill for the mayor.
Some residents have welcomed the move.
“I fully support the initiative taken by the ANC because he was prioritising his own interests and he was selfish. We have written many letters to him but he didn’t answer even one letter. He was driving expensive cars but at the expense of the needy people,” says resident Thami Biyela.
“We have lived our lives in this town and we have seen the town from nothing to what it is today. Regarding politics, we don’t really much involved in politics, but you can see the negative effects it has had in the town. You can see the town is dirty and how filthy it is in the last few days. The paras come and dig the bins as well and things lie around more,” adds another resident Luqman Moosajan.
Business owner, Ravi Singh, believes Ngidi was targeted because he opposed corruption and maladministration.
“The mayor and deputy mayor were very effective, and they know what they are doing. Whenever the mayor and deputy mayor fight against corruption and bribes, they are targeted. Throughout South Africa, even in municipalities, you will find that there is bribery and corruption and when the council speaks up and gets things right, they take council out.”
DA caucus leader in council, Privi Khan, has welcomed the removal of Ngidi from office.
“Definitely, we welcome the removal of the mayor, he has put his personal interests before the interests of the people of KwaDukuza. Based on that, we welcome his removal and in addition to that we were the first party to highlight the shenanigans he has undertaken from November until his removal. It sets the tone for how things will go forward and how the people of KwaDukuza are going to see that governance under the ANC is problematic and it is unacceptable that we have three mayors in a five-year term.”
ANC spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, says the move will restore stability in the municipality.
“In terms of stability, we are convinced that there will be stability and the regional task team serves the role that is played regional executive committee which means there is new team of people who will play oversight on behalf of the PTT in these municipalities to see that work is being implemented and is implemented in a manner that the ANC understands to be correct in accordance with processes of the council.”
