Arsonist are suspected of setting alight the Great Kei municipal offices in Komga and torching two municipal refuse trucks early yesterday.
Mayor Loyiso Tshetsha yesterday confirmed that his office, the office of the municipal manager and that of the chief financial officer were destroyed when the upper floor of the building was torched in the early hours. Firefighters found a security guard gagged and bound at his post on the ground floor while the flames ate the top floor, Tshetsha said.
The fire department rescued the guard and put out the blaze, which had spread to two refuse collection trucks, now ruined. Police were on top of the investigation, he added.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa reacted with shock and disappointment, urging police to use the “full might of the law”.
He said this act of criminality and others like it could not be tolerated, and warned people “not to engage in violent protests”.
Komga residents have been protesting against municipal failure since last February. Last week community members announced they would hit the streets yesterday.
However Tshetsha – who is at the centre of the community’s unhappiness – said he did not want to jump the gun and pin the destruction of property on the community.
Great Kei United Forum members have been persistent in their call for Tshetsha’s head, accusing him of plundering municipal funds, failing to deliver services and sexually harassing women staff.
Tshetsha said the accusations were unfounded and called for anyone with evidence to come forward.
Xasa reported back to the community last week on a memorandum of demands. But forum members were displeased with his response as it did not find the mayor responsible for any wrongdoing.
When common ground could not be found, the meeting collapsed.
Tshetsha said yesterday: “Part of the MEC’s report last week was around those allegations raised against me and there is no evidence that supports any of those things.”
Xasa said even the allegations relating to sexual harrassment were all made by third parties – not a single person had claimed to be directly affected.
Speaking about the arson attacks, Tshetshe said: “It might be related to the ongoing protest but we do not have facts yet. However, if you look into it, the MEC’s meeting was last week and it ended without common ground as the Great Kei United Forum was unhappy. And we are told that there was a community meeting that was called after the unsuccessful meeting with MEC and there was another one called this morning so it could be .”
The forum’s chairperson, Zola Tshali, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The DA condemned the fires as acts of “anarchy”.
DA caucus leader in the Bhisho legislature Bobby Stevenson said: “People taking the law into their own hands and damaging municipal property need to be met with the full force of the law. The DA calls on police to take speedy action to arrest these culprits so an example can be made.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Great Kei offices in flames
Mayor Loyiso Tshetsha yesterday confirmed that his office, the office of the municipal manager and that of the chief financial officer were destroyed when the upper floor of the building was torched in the early hours. Firefighters found a security guard gagged and bound at his post on the ground floor while the flames ate the top floor, Tshetsha said.
The fire department rescued the guard and put out the blaze, which had spread to two refuse collection trucks, now ruined. Police were on top of the investigation, he added.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa reacted with shock and disappointment, urging police to use the “full might of the law”.
He said this act of criminality and others like it could not be tolerated, and warned people “not to engage in violent protests”.
Komga residents have been protesting against municipal failure since last February. Last week community members announced they would hit the streets yesterday.
However Tshetsha – who is at the centre of the community’s unhappiness – said he did not want to jump the gun and pin the destruction of property on the community.
Great Kei United Forum members have been persistent in their call for Tshetsha’s head, accusing him of plundering municipal funds, failing to deliver services and sexually harassing women staff.
Tshetsha said the accusations were unfounded and called for anyone with evidence to come forward.
Xasa reported back to the community last week on a memorandum of demands. But forum members were displeased with his response as it did not find the mayor responsible for any wrongdoing.
When common ground could not be found, the meeting collapsed.
Tshetsha said yesterday: “Part of the MEC’s report last week was around those allegations raised against me and there is no evidence that supports any of those things.”
Xasa said even the allegations relating to sexual harrassment were all made by third parties – not a single person had claimed to be directly affected.
Speaking about the arson attacks, Tshetshe said: “It might be related to the ongoing protest but we do not have facts yet. However, if you look into it, the MEC’s meeting was last week and it ended without common ground as the Great Kei United Forum was unhappy. And we are told that there was a community meeting that was called after the unsuccessful meeting with MEC and there was another one called this morning so it could be .”
The forum’s chairperson, Zola Tshali, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The DA condemned the fires as acts of “anarchy”.
DA caucus leader in the Bhisho legislature Bobby Stevenson said: “People taking the law into their own hands and damaging municipal property need to be met with the full force of the law. The DA calls on police to take speedy action to arrest these culprits so an example can be made.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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