NFP confirms removal of mayor Mshangane Ndabandaba amid corruption scandal
Nongoma Local Municipality will have a new mayor after NFP decided to recall its corruption-tainted mayor Mshangane Ndabandaba
Image: supplied
The National Freedom Party (NFP) will finally remove its Nongoma Local Municipality corruption-tainted mayor, Mshangane Ndabandaba.
The party's Acting Secretary-General, Sunset Xaba, said contrary to belief that the party was keeping the mayor despite facing serious corruption charges, it was seized with the matter and has taken a decision to remove him.
The mayor would have been removed long ago; however, the party caucus in the northern KwaZulu-Natal municipality wrote to the leadership and requested that they delay his removal to allow for a smooth transition, since there are decisions that the caucus still wants to make while the mayor remains in his position.
"We have made a decision that Mayor Ndabandaba must go, so we are busy processing his removal from office. We are in discussion with our caucus in the municipality for a smooth transition," said Xaba.
Attempts to contact Ndabandaba were unsuccessful.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The mayor was arrested and charged alongside his Deputy Sabelo Nkosi (EFF) and ANC Speaker Babongile Sithole for fraud and corruption concerning a tender that was awarded by the municipality.
The trio was arrested in November last year, together with two senior officials and a businessman, who the State alleged was awarded the tender fraudulently to supply services to the municipality, allegedly by the accused. They are all out on bail.
The EFF has since fired Nkosi, but the ANC and NFP have kept their members in the positions. Despite having a step-aside rule that stipulates a member must immediately vacate their position after being criminally charged with serious allegations, the ANC has kept Sithole in her position.
This has led to the party being accused of being complicit in corruption in the municipality; however, the party recently dismissed that, saying it was still processing the Sithole matter.
The three parties are co-governing the rural municipality after no party managed to get enough majority to govern alone. In the 2021 local government elections, the NFP became the second largest party in the municipality after the IFP.
When the IFP and the EFF collapsed, the NFP stepped in, working with the ANC and EFF to govern the rural municipality.
Meanwhile, the ANC in the province is expected to announce changes in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, north of Durban.
The party is said to have taken a decision to remove its mayor, Ali Ngidi, following an internal probe over his conduct and allegations that have dominated the media since he was appointed in November.
ANC provincial spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, refused to be drawn into discussing the matter except to say, the party's investigation is in the final stages.
Attempts to get comment from Ngidi were also unsuccessful.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
NPA has four months to prepare closing argument's on Luthuli's inquest
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), will concluding its work on the Inkosi Albert Luthuli's inquest in October by presenting closing arguments at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Image: RANJITH KALLY THE ball is now with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) advocates to give Judge Nompumelelo Radebe a convincing argument that Inkosi Albert Luthuli was killed by apartheid operatives, not a goods train as it was found soon after he died in 1967. Advocates Ncedile Dunywa, Annah Chuene, Siyabonga Ngcobo, and Xolani Msimango concluded, leading several people with evidence on June 11. Since the beginning of the inquest at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on April 14, the advocates have led an array of witnesses with evidence. Those who testified included South African Police (SAPS) members, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) officials, scene reconstruction and simulation experts, forensic analysts, medical evidence, family members of Chief Luthuli, anti-apartheid activists, and friends of Luthuli. Former justice minister Jeff Radebe also testified. The matter was postponed from June 11 to October 13, where the advocates would be given until October 16 to give closing arguments. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The same court also postponed on June 17 the inquest on the death of another struggle stalwart, Griffiths Mxenge, who was killed by stabbing in Umlazi on November 19, 1981, to October 9. The Mxenge matter was first postponed on 14 April to give those who felt they might be implicated in his death, who were apartheid police officers at the time, a chance to apply for the government to provide them with legal representatives, as they were employed by the state when Mxenge was killed. The court first postponed Mxenge's matter to June 17, which was the holding date to establish if the officers had succeeded in finding lawyers. On their return on June 17, the court heard that their applications to have the state-provided lawyers were still pending. Since the beginning of Luthuli's inquiry, scores of Luthuli's family members, ANC leaders and supporters have been frequenting the court to hear what caused the death of the president-general of Africa's biggest liberation movement and the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Luthuli died at the age of 69 at the Stanger Hospital on July 21, 1967, hours after he was found with multiple head and upper-body injuries at the railway line Mvoti River bridge. The inquest heard that even his death at the hospital was questionable because he was not afforded proper medical attention that could have saved his life. The NPA instituted an inquiry as there were beliefs that the initial inquest conducted in September 1969 misled the public about the cause of his death. Magistrate C.I. Boswell, who presided over the inquest at the Stanger Magistrate's Court, had concluded that Luthuli had been hit by the goods steam train that was traveling to Durban as he was crossing the bridge to his sugarcane farm. The report indicated that Luthuli might not have heard the train hooting or seen it coming, despite that it was approaching him from the front. Another theory was that Luthuli deliberately ignored the train to kill himself. However, experts who testified before Judge Radebe indicated that Luthuli was likely attacked. The experts were backed by the National Archives Advisory Council chairperson, Sibongile Mnyandu-Nzimande, who testified that her family member witnessed white men assaulting Luthuli with a shovel near the bridge where the train was stationed. Mnyandu-Nzimande told the judge that her relative, who was a messenger transporting documents between Luthuli and her grandfather, was few days later taken away by police to state what he witnessed, but was never found again. At the beginning of the inquest, Dunywa said the outcome of the inquest, held the same year Luthuli died, was not based on fact and evidence, 'but rather on the suppression of justice aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators remained hidden and protected". He said Boswell wrote correspondence on August 4, 1967, preempting the outcome even before the evidence was presented before him. Dunywa stated that Boswell communicated his written opinion to the Secretary of Justice that 'I had to report that an inquest in connection with the death of Albert John Luthuli will be held at Stanger by me on 19 September 1967 at 10 am. 'From the report available at present, I do not expect the finding to be anything other than accidental. The cause of death furnished by the district sergeant might be questioned by the relatives, but I can not anticipate on what grounds the dispute is raised."
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Concerns mount over South African Post Office's recovery strategy
Chairperson of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, Sonja Boshoff, has voiced significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of the SAPO's turnaround strategy. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives Chairperson of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, Sonja Boshoff, has voiced significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) leading the organisation's turnaround strategy. Following a presentation by the BRPs on Wednesday, which outlined a vision to evolve SAPO into an e-commerce hub and multipurpose service centre, Boshoff highlighted several troubling realities that raise alarm about the plan's viability. Foremost among her concerns is the recent retrenchment of over 4,000 employees, casting a shadow on the future of many livelihoods. Despite the substantial workforce reduction, ambiguity remains regarding the potential for further layoffs, exacerbating uncertainty among employees and stakeholders alike. 'Service delivery at the Post Office has significantly deteriorated, and the entity continues to survive on state bailouts,' Boshoff stated. 'Public confidence has been completely eroded, and the long-term sustainability of SAPO remains in serious jeopardy.' Her comments underscore a growing sentiment that the turnaround strategy, while ambitious in its goals, lacks the substance and support necessary for meaningful progress. Another point of contention for Boshoff is the BRPs' request to present key elements of the turnaround strategy in closed sessions. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'SAPO is a state-owned enterprise funded by public money. The use of in-camera briefings must remain the exception, not the rule,' she argued, stressing that such sessions should only occur under genuine commercial sensitivity rather than as a means to obscure institutional failures from public scrutiny and parliamentary oversight. The BRPs' strategy outlined vague notions of digitisation, a revised branch footprint, and hybrid financing models, yet it fell short on detailing innovation and measurable outcomes. Boshoff emphasised the urgency of clearer implementation timelines and funding structures, as well as addressing the pressing questions surrounding the lack of serious private investment in SAPO's recovery. 'How many of the retrenched employees have actually received support through the TERS fund? What efforts have been made to engage the private sector in restoring core service functions? On what basis is SAPO still classified as a 'strategic national asset' while continuing to rely on repeated state bailouts?' she queried, adding to a list of unanswered questions that loom over the Post Office's potential resurgence. Boshoff concluded with a clarion call for the restoration of credibility and trust in SAPO, asserting that public institutions must be held to high standards of transparency, accountability, and defined performance indicators, particularly when employing taxpayer funds. 'A turnaround plan cannot rely on slogans or structural tinkering. It must restore credibility, modernise operations, and rebuild trust with the South African public who depend on these services,' she stated. As the Select Committee continues its oversight, Boshoff reiterated the necessity for stringent accountability and complete transparency throughout the business rescue process. 'The relevance of the Post Office in the broader communications and logistics sector is fast diminishing. This can only be reversed through genuine diversification of its service offering and complete modernisation of its operations,' she concluded, leaving the fate of SAPO hanging in a delicate balance. IOL
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Extortion costs Western Cape economy nearly half a billion
During an anti-extortion summit, the Western Cape government heard of R400 million in stalled infrastructure projects. Image: File EXTORTION-related crimes are effectively 'strangling economic growth', with roughly R400 million worth of public infrastructure projects stalled in the province by the end of 2024 due to criminal interference, says Premier Alan Winde. He made the remarks during a recent high-level Anti-Extortion Summit attended by law enforcement agencies, business leaders, civil society, and multiple government departments in a bid to confront what officials described as a 'systemic and organised' campaign of criminality. The summit comes amid growing concern that extortion syndicates are paralysing infrastructure projects, intimidating communities, and undermining job creation. Winde told the gathering that extortion was no longer a shadow crime, but a direct threat to development, public services, and lives in the Western Cape. 'This is intolerable. We must recommit to working closer together to hit back at these criminals. One way in which we can do this is by giving provinces and municipalities more of a say in policing, adequately resourcing the SAPS in our province, with crime intelligence being significantly bolstered, and by properly capacitating the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA),' he said Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said extortion has evolved into a serious economic and security crisis, threatening livelihoods, delaying service delivery, and destabilising entire sectors. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Extortion is a direct threat to livelihoods, small businesses, infrastructure development, and public services. It undermines the rule of law, instills fear in communities, and leaves many of our residents despondent.' Some of the cases include gangs demanding 'protection fees' from construction companies, business owners, and even public transport operators. 'They are not just stealing money. They are stealing opportunities which are critical to economic participation and job creation,' said Marais. Winde said public-private cooperation would be crucial to dismantling extortion networks. A dedicated multi-sectoral structure will be formed to drive anti-extortion strategies across departments and agencies. Improved data-sharing and the enforcement of last year's Collaboration Agreement between the SAPS, the City of Cape Town, and the provincial government were also highlighted as immediate priorities. In the build-up to the summit, the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety launched a province-wide survey to gather sector-specific insights into the nature and reach of extortion. The deadline for participation was extended to June 4 to ensure broader engagement.
