A former ANC branch secretary is demanding to know why a Buffalo City Metro councillor and three others have not been arrested after a case of assault was opened.
This comes as tensions mount over the nomination of ANC ward candidates in BCM.
Anele Pati, a former ward 23 branch secretary, confirmed to the Daily Dispatch yesterday that he had opened a case of assault against ward councillor Zameka Gajula, and Melisizwe Tutu, Sandla Sotaka and Dakie Mbombela.
Tutu, who is the branch secretary of ward 24 which was officially aligned (merged) with ward 23 late last year, and Sotaka, the branch chairman of ward 24, appeared briefly in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to face assault charges relating to a separate alleged violent clash between two ANC factions at a community hall in ward 24.
Tutu and Sotaka were accompanied to court by Gajula and ward committee member Mbombela before the two entered the dock on Wednesday.
Pati felt that Gajula should have been arrested with the other ward 24 executive members and should face charges in his matter.
Pati told the Dispatch he had opened his case on March 13 but was disappointed that police only charged Tutu and Sotaka.
“The last time I was updated by the investigating officer, he told me they were still looking for witnesses,” Pati said.
He claims he was first slapped twice by Gajula at the ANC constituency office in Highway Shopping Centre in Mdantsane and beaten by Tutu, Sotaka and Mbombela and dragged down the stairs and pushed out of the office.
Pati told the Dispatch Gajula, Tutu and Sotaka Mbombela had arrived at the ANC constituency office and enquired about his presence in a meeting that was exclusively scheduled for leadership.
Pati alleged that at the centre of the dispute was the nomination of ANC ward candidates following the alignment of his ward 23 with that of ward 24, whose leaders are Gajula, Tutu and Sotaka.
“They have my forms . They know I was going to stand for nomination to be a ward councillor and that I have the numbers . The allegations that I don’t have forms and that I’m not an ANC card-carrying member are untrue.”
When the Daily Dispatch asked Gajula, Tutu, Sotaka and Mbombela on Wednesday about the alleged assault of Pati, they denied the incident.
Gajula, Tutu, Sotaka and Mbombela all claimed that Pati did not present any evidence that he was an ANC member and that they were only enquiring about his presence because the meeting was exclusively for leaders.
They admitted they pushed Pati out of the office, but did not assault him.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed a case of assault was being investigated.
Asked why Gajula and others were not arrested in Pati’s case, as had happened in the case involving Tutu and Sotaka, Mbi could only say: “Every docket is unique and there are different dynamics and trends that are followed”. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Lack of arrests in assault case angers victim
This comes as tensions mount over the nomination of ANC ward candidates in BCM.
Anele Pati, a former ward 23 branch secretary, confirmed to the Daily Dispatch yesterday that he had opened a case of assault against ward councillor Zameka Gajula, and Melisizwe Tutu, Sandla Sotaka and Dakie Mbombela.
Tutu, who is the branch secretary of ward 24 which was officially aligned (merged) with ward 23 late last year, and Sotaka, the branch chairman of ward 24, appeared briefly in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to face assault charges relating to a separate alleged violent clash between two ANC factions at a community hall in ward 24.
Tutu and Sotaka were accompanied to court by Gajula and ward committee member Mbombela before the two entered the dock on Wednesday.
Pati felt that Gajula should have been arrested with the other ward 24 executive members and should face charges in his matter.
Pati told the Dispatch he had opened his case on March 13 but was disappointed that police only charged Tutu and Sotaka.
“The last time I was updated by the investigating officer, he told me they were still looking for witnesses,” Pati said.
He claims he was first slapped twice by Gajula at the ANC constituency office in Highway Shopping Centre in Mdantsane and beaten by Tutu, Sotaka and Mbombela and dragged down the stairs and pushed out of the office.
Pati told the Dispatch Gajula, Tutu and Sotaka Mbombela had arrived at the ANC constituency office and enquired about his presence in a meeting that was exclusively scheduled for leadership.
Pati alleged that at the centre of the dispute was the nomination of ANC ward candidates following the alignment of his ward 23 with that of ward 24, whose leaders are Gajula, Tutu and Sotaka.
“They have my forms . They know I was going to stand for nomination to be a ward councillor and that I have the numbers . The allegations that I don’t have forms and that I’m not an ANC card-carrying member are untrue.”
When the Daily Dispatch asked Gajula, Tutu, Sotaka and Mbombela on Wednesday about the alleged assault of Pati, they denied the incident.
Gajula, Tutu, Sotaka and Mbombela all claimed that Pati did not present any evidence that he was an ANC member and that they were only enquiring about his presence because the meeting was exclusively for leaders.
They admitted they pushed Pati out of the office, but did not assault him.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed a case of assault was being investigated.
Asked why Gajula and others were not arrested in Pati’s case, as had happened in the case involving Tutu and Sotaka, Mbi could only say: “Every docket is unique and there are different dynamics and trends that are followed”. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos