Because of the failed scanda water project, ANC leaders face criminal charges. Two ANC leaders have been recommended to face criminal charges in a report by the administrator of the troubled uMkhanyakude District Municipality for allegedly accepting a bribe from a company that was awarded the multi-million rand tender to install water in the northern KwaZulu-Natal Municipality.

Bamba Ndwandwe, the administrator, has suggested that the two leaders of the ANC Nokuhamba Nyawo Region (uMkhanyakude) be charged with bribery for allegedly accepting a bribe from the company that failed to complete the project. It is alleged that the two leaders, whose identities are still being withheld because they have not responded to the allegations, received R10 million from the Nondabuya Water Scheme water project. The incomplete R150 million project, whose tender was won by Minathi Consulting Engineering, started in 2019 and was meant to benefit 2400 households.

Minathi Mthimkhulu, the owner of the company that won the tender, stated in a sworn affidavit that one of the reasons the project was unable to be completed was that some of the funds were diverted to the regional ANC leaders. Ndwandwe was appointed last month to administer the municipality, which was followed by resistance from staff and managers in the ANC-led municipality. According to the report, despite the fact that a lot of funds had already been distributed and the project had not made much progress, the municipality ultimately decided not to pay Minathi. Minathi then served a letter terminating its contract with the municipality, stopping the water project. Senzelwe Mzila, Buthelezi's spokesperson, informed Ndwandwe that the MEC will take the necessary action.

Solomon Mkhombo, the Speaker of the uMkhanyakude, wants Minathi to repay the money. Minathi, according to Mkhombo, was overpaid by R25 million. "We conducted an investigation and discovered that we overpaid this business. We're going to court. We were found to have overpaid by R25 million by the Auditor General. Mkhombo stated, "We want to know where this money went." Mkhombo asserted that the CoGTA MEC is engaging in political battles by utilizing the corruption issue. Mike Mabuyakhulu, the coordinator of the ANC KZN task team, agreed with Mkhombo's claims, claiming that the CoGTA MEC selectively placed municipalities under administration. We are extremely concerned about Buthelezi's municipal administration.