City boss vents anger at the media
Nqwazi furious over ‘strict’ bail
Furious after her application to have her bail conditions amended was dismissed, Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Noxolo Nqwazi acted out by splashing water at the media at Gqeberha commercial crimes court yesterday.
Nqwazi had wanted the magistrate to amend her bail conditions to allow her to attend minuted meetings with colleagues who also happened to be state witnesses.
They include CFO Selwyn Thys, acting supply chain senior director Ntombi Fumbeza and human settlements director Simiselo Nogampula.
She has been charged with fraud along with suspended human settlements boss Mvuleni Mapu, and faces further charges of contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act
Nqwazi is out on R5,000 bail. She and Mapu, along with ANC regional secretary Luyolo Nqakula, former DA councillors Mbulelo Manyathi, Trevor Louw and Neville Higgins, and businessman Xolani Masela and his wife Nwabisa, were arrested earlier in 2022.
While Nqwazi and Mapu are accused of fraud, the others face charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption.
The charges stem from the awarding of a tender to HT Pelatona for the construction of 2,000 toilets during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nompumezo Ngotsha, along with her business, Thuthiko Logistics, has also since been charged and appeared in court on Monday and was granted bail of R5,000. Yesterday, magistrate Nolitha Bara found that Nqwazi’s circumstances had not changed since being granted bail and there was no basis to amend her bail conditions.