Qumbu villagers drank muti and taunted police officers during a march on Mhlontlo municipality offices in protest against the removal of their ward councillor.
The protesters burned herbs while others prayed over the muti calling on their gods to help them kick out the mayor Mandisa Giyose, speaker Xolile Nkompela and chief whip Margaret Mvanyeshe.
Police had to be called in to keep the peace.
The residents of Ward 21 had given the municipality seven days to respond to their demands including reinstating their ward councillor Mkhuseli Mathe.
A march last week became violent after some of the marchers threw chairs and stones at the mayor, speaker and chief whip.
Yesterday’s march was more peaceful as about 15 armed police officers stood against the municipality’s main gate as the marchers arrived in Qumbu.
Giyose requested the protesters’ leaders meet with her in the council chamber.
Last week Giyose, Nkompela and Mvanyeshe had to be escorted out of the municipal hall under police guard.
The three have been accused of nepotism and corruption by the villagers and for unfairly targeting Mathe.
Mathe had reportedly failed to attend more than 20 council and portfolio committee meetings.
Nkompela wrote a letter to him asking him to respond as to why he should not be removed as councillor. He had already been removed from OR Tambo municipality as a representative of Mhlontlo.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch after the meeting community leader Dickson Mzo said: “They told us that they have yet to remove him.
“We want him as our councillor. We voted Mathe in, we do not want another councillor ...”
Nkompela said he had written a letter to Cogta provincial MEC Fikile Xasa about Mathe and that he was still awaiting a response.
“We will make a decision once we receive a response from the MEC,” said Nkompela. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Ward councillor dismissal outrage
The protesters burned herbs while others prayed over the muti calling on their gods to help them kick out the mayor Mandisa Giyose, speaker Xolile Nkompela and chief whip Margaret Mvanyeshe.
Police had to be called in to keep the peace.
The residents of Ward 21 had given the municipality seven days to respond to their demands including reinstating their ward councillor Mkhuseli Mathe.
A march last week became violent after some of the marchers threw chairs and stones at the mayor, speaker and chief whip.
Yesterday’s march was more peaceful as about 15 armed police officers stood against the municipality’s main gate as the marchers arrived in Qumbu.
Giyose requested the protesters’ leaders meet with her in the council chamber.
Last week Giyose, Nkompela and Mvanyeshe had to be escorted out of the municipal hall under police guard.
The three have been accused of nepotism and corruption by the villagers and for unfairly targeting Mathe.
Mathe had reportedly failed to attend more than 20 council and portfolio committee meetings.
Nkompela wrote a letter to him asking him to respond as to why he should not be removed as councillor. He had already been removed from OR Tambo municipality as a representative of Mhlontlo.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch after the meeting community leader Dickson Mzo said: “They told us that they have yet to remove him.
“We want him as our councillor. We voted Mathe in, we do not want another councillor ...”
Nkompela said he had written a letter to Cogta provincial MEC Fikile Xasa about Mathe and that he was still awaiting a response.
“We will make a decision once we receive a response from the MEC,” said Nkompela. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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