The acting Municipal Manager (MM) of the politically contested Nongoma Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal had to beef up his security, limit movements and open a case of intimidation with the police after receiving a threatening call from a suspected hitman hired to kill him.
Mpumelelo Bongani Mnguni received the threatening call early on Monday this week, March 3, shortly after arriving at his workplace.
The call was recorded and shared with the embattled council of the ANC-NFP- EFF-run municipality in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal.
In the audio recording heard by African Times, the male caller kicked off the threatening call by roughly asking Mnguni why he was not picking up his phone when they previously called him.
The caller identified himself as Sichisamlilo and repeatedly asked Mnguni where he was as they wanted to urgently see him.
The suspected hitman later asked whether the municipal manager had passed the Nkonjeni area near Ulundi on his way to the Nongoma municipal offices.
He later told Mnguni that they were monitoring his movements. The caller repeatedly used Zulu expletives throughout the call.
“We are watching you… together with the little and silly bodyguards who escort you, we are watching you,” the caller rudely told Mnguni and asked him whether he still drives his VW Amarok vehicle.
“Listen here, If you still want to live, I am giving you two days to come and see me in Stanger so that everything is sorted,” the caller said and hung up.
The Nongoma municipal manager or Accounting Officer position is a contested one as there are two other candidates who are vying for it.
One of the contenders was barred by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on the basis that he lied in his CV and has a past tainted by uncleared corruption allegations.
The other contender is a former municipal manager who was fired by the council, but he is challenging his dismissal in the SALGA Bargaining Council.
The spokesperson of the police in KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed that they are investigating a case of intimidation against Mnguni.
“Police in Nongoma are investigating a case of intimidation following an incident in which a 66-year-old man was allegedly intimidated by a suspect known to him.
“It is reported that on Monday, 3 March 2025, the suspect called the victim and threatened to harm him since he was instructed to leave the office as municipality manager,” the Police spokesperson said.
