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Paid Millions to Stay Home: Nelson Mandela Bay’s Costly Municipal Standstill

Published

3 weeks ago

August 13, 2025

Chiraag

Noxolo Nqwazi suspension, Nelson Mandela Bay corruption case, municipal manager salary controversy, South Africa local government scandal, service delivery crisis, political instability in Eastern Cape, Joburg ETC

In Nelson Mandela Bay, a political storm has been brewing for nearly two years while the city’s suspended municipal manager, Noxolo Nqwazi, quietly earns a monthly salary of R200,000, a total of about R4.2 million so far, without setting foot in her office.

Former Mayor Retief Odendaal revealed the figure in a television interview, adding that when legal bills and acting manager appointments are included, the city has spent more than R5 million during her 21-month suspension.

From Covid-19 tender to corruption charges

Nqwazi’s troubles began when she was arrested by the Hawks in September 2022 alongside several officials and businesspeople. They face charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud, and violating the Municipal Finance Management Act. The allegations stem from a 2020 Covid-19 toilet tender, in which kickbacks were allegedly used to reward councillors for political votes.

Her legal team insists the State has no case and is pushing for her discharge. Deputy Mayor Gary Van Niekerk has warned that political forces attempting to reinstate her could undo progress towards clean governance in the metro.

A revolving door at City Hall

Odendaal says that since 2009, the city has had 44 municipal managers, a figure he believes highlights chronic instability. This turbulence has been costly. Over the last two years, R900 million in grant funding was forfeited to the national treasury because the municipality failed to allocate it. In the last financial year, NMB received R185 million for transport projects but managed to spend just R29 million.

The Auditor-General’s most recent report criticised slow management responses, weak political oversight, and inadequate consequences for poor performance.

Big salaries, stalled services

The city’s draft budget for the year lists employee costs as the second-largest expense after electricity, making up roughly a quarter of total spending. This is expected to rise to over 26% by 2028. Meanwhile, infrastructure creation and maintenance remain “significant challenges,” according to the budget report.

Odendaal says that without political stability, accountability will remain out of reach. “Nelson Mandela Bay needs leaders who can stabilise council and ensure the administration delivers,” he told Newzroom Afrika.

Why this matters to Joburg readers

If you live in Johannesburg, this story may feel familiar. When municipal politics turn into endless power plays, ordinary residents are left paying for salaries, legal battles, and acting appointments while basic services suffer. In both cities, residents face the same question: who is watching the money, and when will accountability come first?