MBIZANA community members allegedly dragged the council Speaker Phikolomzi Sirhamza from his municipal office yesterday morning and beat him up.
They accused him of supporting the return of sacked municipal manager Simphiwe Thobela.
Thobela was found guilty of misconduct last year and was shown the door earlier this year.
Yesterday, the council was about to take a resolution allowing Thobela to resume his duties. T he decision to fire him would have been declared unlawful.
However, things did not go as planned as around 50 people marched to the municipal offices, singing and burning tyres, and prevented officials from entering .
Not a single official was able to work yesterday. Sirhamza was the first target according to other officials on the scene.
When he tried to go through the gate the protesters stopped him. He reportedly called the police who were able to defuse the situation briefly and he went into the building.
Soon after the police left, the group entered , grabbed Sirhamza, beat him up and poured water and intelezi (a plant that makes the skin burn and itch ) on him.
Councillor Nomonde Khwelemthini was also assaulted when she tried to help Sirhamza enter the premises.
Khwelemthini declined to comment.
African People’s Convention councillor Sonwabile Ngonini said the problems were a result of infighting within the ANC.
“The cause of this is the ANC leadership. If they had proper leadership this wouldn’t happen. The conflicting groups in council organise people to cause unrest. In the end the municipality and the people of Mbizana suffer.”
UDM councillor Isaac Sabuka confirmed that there had been a physical fight between councillors and the protesting group.
“They are protesting because they say the speaker wants the municipal manager to return regardless of the investigation which found him guilty of misconduct.
“The ANC apparently gave a directive at a regional and provincial level that Mr Thobela had to return. As the UDM we are in full support of the residents.”
Sabuka confirmed that about 10 councillors had forced their way through the protesting group .
Council chief whip and ANC councillor Justice Madikizela said he had asked Sirhamza to postpone the meeting .
“What is clear is that people are angry that someone found guilty of breaking the law is to be reinstated. When I came in earlier this morning and saw how volatile the situation was, I told the speaker to postpone the meeting but he did not. ”
Attempts to get comment from Sirhamza were unsuccessful . —
Angry mob beats up EC council Speaker
They accused him of supporting the return of sacked municipal manager Simphiwe Thobela.
Thobela was found guilty of misconduct last year and was shown the door earlier this year.
Yesterday, the council was about to take a resolution allowing Thobela to resume his duties. T he decision to fire him would have been declared unlawful.
However, things did not go as planned as around 50 people marched to the municipal offices, singing and burning tyres, and prevented officials from entering .
Not a single official was able to work yesterday. Sirhamza was the first target according to other officials on the scene.
When he tried to go through the gate the protesters stopped him. He reportedly called the police who were able to defuse the situation briefly and he went into the building.
Soon after the police left, the group entered , grabbed Sirhamza, beat him up and poured water and intelezi (a plant that makes the skin burn and itch ) on him.
Councillor Nomonde Khwelemthini was also assaulted when she tried to help Sirhamza enter the premises.
Khwelemthini declined to comment.
African People’s Convention councillor Sonwabile Ngonini said the problems were a result of infighting within the ANC.
“The cause of this is the ANC leadership. If they had proper leadership this wouldn’t happen. The conflicting groups in council organise people to cause unrest. In the end the municipality and the people of Mbizana suffer.”
UDM councillor Isaac Sabuka confirmed that there had been a physical fight between councillors and the protesting group.
“They are protesting because they say the speaker wants the municipal manager to return regardless of the investigation which found him guilty of misconduct.
“The ANC apparently gave a directive at a regional and provincial level that Mr Thobela had to return. As the UDM we are in full support of the residents.”
Sabuka confirmed that about 10 councillors had forced their way through the protesting group .
Council chief whip and ANC councillor Justice Madikizela said he had asked Sirhamza to postpone the meeting .
“What is clear is that people are angry that someone found guilty of breaking the law is to be reinstated. When I came in earlier this morning and saw how volatile the situation was, I told the speaker to postpone the meeting but he did not. ”
Attempts to get comment from Sirhamza were unsuccessful . —
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