KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Council has resolved to terminate Boy Ngubo's contract as acting municipal manager by mutual agreement and appointed Dr Richard Martin to the position for three months.
These decisions were taken on Tuesday 13 October, during the continuation of an ordinary council meeting that collapsed on 30 September. Former acting CFO Busisiwe Lubelwana's three-month contract ended on Monday 12 October.
Ngubo, Lubelwana and their co-accused, former mayor Thando Matika, were each granted bail of R20 000 on Tuesday. They face charges of corruption, money laundering and extortion. During court proceedings on Monday 12 October, Ngubo's defence attorney, Carl Jeppe, placed his client's signed bail affidavit on record. It detailed declared assets including property in KwaZulu-Natal valued at R6m and vehicles with a combined estimated value of at least R3.8m.
According to the affidavit, Ngubo earned about R80 000 monthly while serving as acting municipal manager.
His stated monthly expenses included R20 000 rent for accommodation on Leisure Island, R20 000 for a flatlet on Thesen Island for a family member, and R30 000 towards the upkeep of his son, who lives with his uncle.
It also emerged in court that Ngubo had been a director of Dubai-based company Sunduq Al Tijari. Jeppe told the court that his client resigned from the company in August 2025. However, a Central News article published on 14 May 2025, titled "From Boardroom to Bloom: Boy Manqoba Ngubo Launches South African Produce Brand in Dubai", identified Ngubo as the figure behind the company.
It described Sunduq Al Tijari as a supplier of South African fruit and vegetables in the United Arab Emirates and reported that the brand was launching at Dubai Bloom Market.
Knysna municipal communications manager Christopher Bezuidenhout confirmed the council decisions. "Council resolved on Tuesday 13 October to terminate Mr Ngubo's contract by mutual agreement, subject to finalising the necessary arrangements," he said. He confirmed Martin's three-month appointment and said the municipality could not comment further as the matter concerned confidential employment issues.
As previously reported in Knysna-Plett Herald, Ngubo's appointment and subsequent extension were challenged in court. In September, the Western Cape High Court ruled that the extension was unlawful.
The case has been postponed to 2 December for further investigation.
All three accused are expected to return to court and remain presumed innocent unless found guilty.
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