Chief whip’s salary docked after video shows her serving alcohol

THE ANC chief whip in uMkhanyakude district municipality, Maniza Ngcobo, has had half her salary docked and will have to do community service after a video of her distributing alcohol at a family traditional ceremony during the lockdown emerged on social media. The video was taken by her sister.

This was revealed by ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli during a recent provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting.

At the meeting, it was also revealed that the mayor of uPhongolo local municipality, Winnie Nhlabathi; speaker of uMngeni local municipality Zine Dlamini; deputy mayor of eMadlangeni local municipality Ntsikelelo Ndlovu; and the speaker of uMkhanyakude district municipality, Solomon Msane, had been recalled.

A meeting will be held during the course of this week to find their replacements.

Ntuli said Ngcobo’s salary had been docked for two months.

He said Ngcobo would complete her community service through an NGO to be decided by him and the Far North regional secretary, Siphile Mdaka.

“She will be required to work for that NGO for a period of three months starting from September 1, and part of her salary will be donated to that organisation for the period of two months,” said Ntuli.

Ntuli said Ngcobo was having a traditional cleansing ceremony on August 1, following her mother’s funeral in June, and a video was taken of her distributing alcohol.

He said although the ANC recognised that only relatives attended the event and there were no outsiders, action had to be taken.

“She apologised, and that was a sign of remorse and commitment to take responsibility for wrongdoing.

“That is why we took the approach that is consistent with what President Cyril Ramaphosa did with comrade Stella Ndabeni (Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services minister) at a national level. You have to demonstrate that something wrong has happened and irrespective of an apology some consequences must follow,” said Ntuli.

Ngcobo said she would comply with the ANC’s decision.

“I sincerely apologised to the nation and the ANC as I realised my mistake,” said Ngcobo.

Said Ntuli: “In many of the municipalities we did not make substantive changes in terms of the leadership composition.

“However, we had to ensure that there was a clear programme for the turnaround of the municipalities that are in a dire situation.

“In the case of uPhongolo, we agreed that we need to redeploy or remove the mayor and get her to be reassigned, which the PEC is still going to work out.”

He also announced a provincial working committee (PWC) task team to be led by former premier Willies Mchunu to investigate allegations of misconduct against MPL Jomo Sibiya, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka, and Newcastle mayor Ntuthuko Mahlaba, which emanated from an anonymous letter.

“The task team is required to present its findings and recommendations for consideration by the ANC PWC by August 25,” he said.