Controversial Border Rugby boss Pumlani Mkolo has been accused of assaulting a fellow rugby fan after a rugby match in Mdantsane on Saturday.
Mdantsane police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed yesterday that Foto Mpambani had laid a complaint of assault against the suspended ANC regional leader, but no arrest had been made as police were still investigating the alleged incident.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Mpambani said he was at the clash between Swallows and Winter Rose at NU13 stadium on Saturday when the alleged incident occurred.
“A try had not been converted and I was walking in front of a crowd and so I made comment about that. At the end of the match, as we were all rushing onto the field to congratulate the players, three young women came up to me and started swearing at me.
“While still shocked by what these women were saying, Mkolo arrived and said ndiyamqhela .”
Then without warning, said Mpambani, Mkolo threw a punch at him.
“I sort of ducked and his punch landed on my chin. I was about to fight back but someone intervened and I left,” Mpambani said.
He then lodged a complaint at the Nyibiba Police Station, he said.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mkolo admitted he had watched the game, but insisted he knew nothing about an assault incident.
“Uphambene !
“I know nothing about that.
“I was at that match but I did not assault anyone,” Mkolo said, adding that he did not even know Mbambani.
Mkolo retained his position as Border Rugby Union president following a landslide victory against Zolile Tini in February this year. This is his second three-year term of office.
No stranger to controversy, he was recently suspended from the region’s ANC leadership after an investigation by the party’s national integrity committee (IC).
His deputy, Mkhawuleli Maleki, is acting in his position until the Mandela memorial fraud trial is over.
This follows a Daily Dispatch exposé which detailed how R5.9-million meant to transport mourners to several memorial services around Buffalo City Metro for the late former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral in 2013 was instead allegedly paid into an account linked to businessman Mzwandile Sokwali.
The Dispatch uncovered that the money was allegedly channelled into accounts belonging to several local businessmen and women, including Dean Fanoe and Viwe Vazi.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe confirmed yesterday that the integrity report implicating Mkolo, ANC regional deputy chairwoman Luleka Simon-Ndzele and regional executive committee (REC) additional member Sindiswa Gomba was delivered to the ANC’s provincial headquarters at Calata House in February.
Mkolo had been re-elected as regional secretary of the ANC’s Dr WB Rubusana (formerly Buffalo City Metro) region in December last year after being on special leave for more than eight months for his alleged involvement in the fraud.
The IC recommended that Mkolo be suspended as an ANC official and not be involved in the ANC’s campaign programme for the 2016 local elections. — siyab@dispatch.co.za
Border rugby boss accused of hitting fan
Mdantsane police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed yesterday that Foto Mpambani had laid a complaint of assault against the suspended ANC regional leader, but no arrest had been made as police were still investigating the alleged incident.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Mpambani said he was at the clash between Swallows and Winter Rose at NU13 stadium on Saturday when the alleged incident occurred.
“A try had not been converted and I was walking in front of a crowd and so I made comment about that. At the end of the match, as we were all rushing onto the field to congratulate the players, three young women came up to me and started swearing at me.
“While still shocked by what these women were saying, Mkolo arrived and said ndiyamqhela .”
Then without warning, said Mpambani, Mkolo threw a punch at him.
“I sort of ducked and his punch landed on my chin. I was about to fight back but someone intervened and I left,” Mpambani said.
He then lodged a complaint at the Nyibiba Police Station, he said.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mkolo admitted he had watched the game, but insisted he knew nothing about an assault incident.
“Uphambene !
“I know nothing about that.
“I was at that match but I did not assault anyone,” Mkolo said, adding that he did not even know Mbambani.
Mkolo retained his position as Border Rugby Union president following a landslide victory against Zolile Tini in February this year. This is his second three-year term of office.
No stranger to controversy, he was recently suspended from the region’s ANC leadership after an investigation by the party’s national integrity committee (IC).
His deputy, Mkhawuleli Maleki, is acting in his position until the Mandela memorial fraud trial is over.
This follows a Daily Dispatch exposé which detailed how R5.9-million meant to transport mourners to several memorial services around Buffalo City Metro for the late former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral in 2013 was instead allegedly paid into an account linked to businessman Mzwandile Sokwali.
The Dispatch uncovered that the money was allegedly channelled into accounts belonging to several local businessmen and women, including Dean Fanoe and Viwe Vazi.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe confirmed yesterday that the integrity report implicating Mkolo, ANC regional deputy chairwoman Luleka Simon-Ndzele and regional executive committee (REC) additional member Sindiswa Gomba was delivered to the ANC’s provincial headquarters at Calata House in February.
Mkolo had been re-elected as regional secretary of the ANC’s Dr WB Rubusana (formerly Buffalo City Metro) region in December last year after being on special leave for more than eight months for his alleged involvement in the fraud.
The IC recommended that Mkolo be suspended as an ANC official and not be involved in the ANC’s campaign programme for the 2016 local elections. — siyab@dispatch.co.za
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