Ex-mayor mum on new plans

By Adrienne Carlisle

GRAHAMSTOWN -- The city's embattled former mayor Likhaya Ngqezana has resigned from the council and will be leaving town, amid allegations of huge transport costs.

However, an unrepentant Ngqezana says he will continue to advise the Grahamstown ANC on a strategic way forward and wll leave behind his "brilliant plan" to transform the council and service delivery in the city.

"I will be leaving but will leave behind the sting of my revolutionary mind."

Town clerk Steve Cridland revealed earlier this week that he would be referring the matter of Ngqezana's transport costs to the auditor-general and the provincial government.

He also hinted that even more serious allegations which had surfaced against the former mayor could be referred to the police for investigation.

He said he had been forced to do so as the council was either unable or unwilling to investigate these matters and Ngqezana had failed to submit a report explaining his transport expenses.

Ngqezana said yesterday that Cridland knew he had been ill and had given him permission to hand in his report at the end of October, something the town clerk denied.

"There is absolutely no truth in that. He never contacted me for an extension and I never granted him one."

Ngqezana would not expand on where he was going or what he would be doing.

"This is a turning point in my life."

He slammed what he described as the "stupid minds" who he said had tried to destroy his life and development.

He also criticised fellow councillor Jonson Booi as a "nincompoop" for saying Ngqezana had offered excuses instead of the report required of him.

Ngqezana challenged Cridland to a public debate on his "competence" and said the ANC should replace Cridland with a "transformative, questioning mind" after the local government elections.

lThe Democratic Alliance this week criticised the local ANC council for failing to take action against the former mayor for his "unauthorised expenditure of thousands of rands" in transport costs.

In an open letter to the public, Grahamstown DA chairperson Michael Whisson said the local ANC had failed to take firm decisions against lawless stockowners and had failed to control hawkers or taxis.

"If the likes of our former mayor -- and remember that he was hand-picked for the job by the ANC -- are able to ride rough-shod over the new council, then we can look forward to the 'Zimbabwefication' of Grahamstown."

He also said the ANC's "clumsy interference" had delayed vital housing projects in Grahamstown East.

ANC MPL Phila Nkayi said: "The issues raised by Professor Whisson are very important issues. However, we believe that the manner he used is problematic and childish and serves no good purpose at all."

Nkayi did not wish to discuss the accusations made by Whisson.

He said: "Whisson communicates directly with the media to boost his ego."

ANC regional secretary Mzukisi Mpahlwa said that Whisson "displayed signs of panic" in his letter.

"The DA resist change." -- ECN.