Axing of KwaDukuza mayor applauded by opposition
Opposition parties in KwaDukuza have welcomed the African National Congress' decision to axe Mayor Ali Ngidi and his deputy, Sicelinjabulo Cele.
The pair, who were in office for just eight months, were removed on Wednesday and demoted to ordinary councillors.
Their dismissal follows an internal ANC probe into alleged misconduct and financial mismanagement, including more than R1 million spent on hired vehicles and a R173,000 monthly bill for the mayor’s private security.
The ANC says both officials must repay some of the money.
The DA’s KwaDukuza caucus leader Privi Makhan says under Ngidi’s leadership, service delivery collapsed.
" His tenure was marked by absolute controversy and scandals from the vehicle rental scandal that cost council over a million rand to higher vehicles for him. His glaring absence when the communities needed him most, and his ongoing efforts to support events and vanity projects that did not seek to meet the needs of the people of KwaDukuza."
The MK Party has also applauded the move, calling it a long-overdue step towards accountability and ethical leadership.
Action SA’s KwaDukuza caucus leader, Nel Sewraj, says while the duo failed to deliver, they also inherited a broken system.
" We first had Lindi Nhaca that was appointed 2021, and then she was ousted last year and the new mayor was appointed. This raises concerns basically about the ANC and I think the more destructive factional politics that's going on here, and I think that has to end going forward."
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