The African National Congress in Mpumalanga appears to have finally shown controversial Ehlanzeni, Nelspruit, mayor Jeri Ngomane the door. ANC sources said Ngomane, dubbed the “Romeo mayor” because of his numerous wives and girlfriends, was found guilty on three out of four corruption charges following allegations published in the Mail & Guardian.
The disciplinary hearing was based on a report by auditing firm KPMG, which found wholesale corruption and nepotism within the Ehlanzeni municipality — specifically that women romantically linked to Ngomane had won contracts for council projects.
The report also found that his company, Endecon Ubuntu, had won contracts while he was mayor and after he severed links with it.
He was “sentenced” to the suspension of his ANC membership for five years and ordered to resign before the local government elections in March next year.
ANC provincial secretary Lucas Mello acknowledged that the disciplinary committee had returned a verdict but refused to give details, saying the matter was “sub judice”. He said that until Ngomane had exhausted the party’s appeals procedure, the matter would remain within ANC structures.
“We are dealing with a member’s integrity and that has to be respec-ted. I don’t want to go to the media with the substance of the case.”
Ngomane could not be reached, but Mpumalanga News reported him as saying he was “surprised” that a finding against him had been made and he intended to appeal against the decision.
Mello also declined to say whether, pending the appeal process, Ngomane was regarded as innocent or guilty of the charges he had faced.
When it was pointed out that Ngomane was a mayor and his personal conduct potentially affected ratepayers, Mello said: “The citizens will be entitled to information at the right time. Any citizen who wants to throw tantrums now would be irresponsible.”