The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to President Cyril Ramaphosa, to request an urgent Presidential Proclamation for the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) to investigate the serious allegations of widespread corruption, amounting to an estimated R40 million in the Nongoma Local Municipality, that has had devastating consequences for the residents of this struggling municipality.
Reports that essential services were disrupted, and municipal staff salaries were delayed due to financial mismanagement highlight the urgent need for accountability and decisive action against those responsible.
We note with concern the reports of bribes being paid through various channels, with some municipal officials allegedly receiving payments as low as R1,000. These actions betray the trust of the people of Nongoma and have contributed to the collapse of local governance in the municipality.
We also note the decision of the Nongoma Magistrates Court to grant bail to the Nongoma Local Municipality Mayor, Clifford Ndabandaba who is also implicated in this corruption scandal. While we respect the court’s decision to grant bail to the mayor, we urge him and other accused individuals to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation and abide by the strict bail conditions imposed.
The DA reiterates its call for the full extent of the law to be applied to all those implicated in this matter. Corruption steals directly from the people, and justice must prevail to restore public trust in the municipality. Corruption cases must be prioritised and strong action taken against those who are hellbent on stealing from the people.
We urge the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government to use its powers to ensure that proper oversight is implemented in Nongoma to prevent further mismanagement and to work with law enforcement agencies to expedite all investigations into this matter.
The people of Nongoma deserve a government that works for them, prioritizes service delivery, and operates with transparency and accountability.
The DA will continue to advocate for clean governance and to hold those in power accountable.