A council meeting in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, failed to reach a quorum, delaying a decision on the future of suspended city manager Noxolo Nqwazi. The meeting, which was scheduled to debate the disciplinary committee's ruling that cleared the way for Nqwazi's return to work, was adjourned due to the absence of ANC councillors. The municipality's leadership standoff will now be left to the incoming council after the November elections.
Nqwazi has been on suspension since February 2024 and has received R6.7-million in salary up to April 2026. The disciplinary committee, chaired by Adriaan van der Walt, found that the municipality had failed to follow key requirements in bringing Nqwazi before a hearing. The committee's ruling did not reinstate her or lift her suspension, but it cleared the way for her to return to work.
The ANC's regional working committee meeting had decided not to have its councillors attend the council meeting, according to DA caucus leader Rano Kayser. The decision was made after some members called for Nqwazi's return, while others, including Mayor Babalwa Lobishe, were against it. Fewer than 10 ANC councillors attended the meeting, while many opposition councillors were present.
Council speaker Eugene Johnson stated that Lobishe had submitted an apology, along with several councillors from different political parties. Johnson noted that the meeting's agenda, including letters from Nqwazi's attorneys, could not be dealt with due to the lack of a quorum. The council will now go into recess, with no further meetings until a new government is formed after the November elections.
The collapse of the meeting has been attributed to a "political decision" by the ANC, according to Kayser. He claimed that the meeting's failure to convene was not due to absenteeism, but rather a deliberate attempt to avoid discussing critical issues. Good party councillor Lawrence Troon accused the ANC and DA of working together to block Nqwazi's return.
Acting city manager Lonwabo Ngoqo had instructed staff not to interact with Nqwazi or take instructions from her should she return to work. Ngoqo stated that the municipality rejected the disciplinary committee's ruling and did not accept Nqwazi's return to duty or presence at municipal offices. The municipality's leadership standoff has resulted in significant expenditure, with ratepayers' money being wasted on a meeting that did not convene.
The delayed decision on Nqwazi's future will now be left to the incoming council. The municipality's residents will have to wait until after the November elections to see how the leadership standoff will be resolved. The ANC and DA have been at odds over Nqwazi's suspension, with the DA claiming that the charges against her were trumped up.
Key points
- The Nelson Mandela Bay council meeting failed to reach a quorum due to the absence of ANC councillors, delaying a decision on suspended city manager Noxolo Nqwazi.
- Nqwazi has received R6.7-million in salary while on suspension since February 2024.
- The municipality's leadership standoff will now be left to the incoming council after the November elections.
