ANC councillor faces assault charge

A case of assault has been opened against Buffalo City Metro ANC ward councillor Gideon Norexe after he allegedly threatened party members with a panga in East London earlier this month. 

The alleged incident, part of which was recorded on a cellphone, took place at the East London City Hall on March 2 during an ANC meeting attended by the party’s national deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte.

Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala confirmed they were investigating a case of assault lodged against Norexe.

Mda said Norexe had then gone to his car where he took out “a huge new panga from the boot”.

“I was standing behind his car and after he pulled out this panga he banged his Toyota Avanza door on my head.

“He then charged towards the crowd, threatening these comrades.

“However he was restrained by some who then confiscated his panga and handed it over to police at the scene,” Mda said.

Norexe however said he had grabbed the panga away from Mda who had wanted to assault him with it.

“I did not assault anybody that day, but I cannot dwell much on this as it is now before court which will prove who the panga belonged to,” Norexe said.

He added that Mda was part of a disgruntled group of members who were unhappy with candidate elections in BCM wards.

“Since they failed to win nomination, they are now after my blood,” he said.

Norexe said he had opened a case of intimidation against Mda “and his group which I know from my ward”, adding that his vehicle was damaged during the scuffle.