Assault case opened as chaos erupts at branch meeting

A MDANTSANE woman has filed an assault complaint with police after she was allegedly kicked just below her caesarean operation scar by the husband of Buffalo City Metro ward 20 councillor Ntombizodwa Gamnca at an ANC branch general meeting on Sunday.

Adding insult to injury, a doctor at Cecilia Makiwane allegedly refused to write a medical report, saying it would be a waste of his time as Lynett Nkohla, 35, would withdraw the case after making peace with Andile Gamnca.

The incident allegedly took place at Inkwenkwezi High School hall in NU7, where the branch general meeting was called to elect delegates to attend the upcoming provincial elective conference.

“The doctor said I should come after seven days to allow me and [Gamnca] time to see if we can’t sort the matter out,” said Nkohla.

Social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi has asked her health counterpart, Phumza Dyantyi, to investigate the doctor’s conduct.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday Sihlwayi’s spokesman, Mzukisi Solani, said the politician was outraged by reports of the incident.

“The MEC was alerted and was very disappointed, including with the allegations against the doctor at Cecilia Makiwane, and she immediately contacted health MEC Dr Phumza Dyantyi,” said Solani.

Nkohla claimed she suffered an inflammation on the bladder and struggles to walk, sit or urinate.

Nkohla said police were called to intervene after clashes between two factions erupted at the meeting.

Nkohla claimed she was assaulted shortly after police left.

She said her assailant thought she was recording the incident with her cellphone when she was calling the NU1 police station commander, asking for officers to be deployed to the venue again.

“He came charging and yelling: ‘You are recording this incident you b**ch’ before kicking me to the floor.”

Nkohla claimed the councillor saw the incident and begged her not to press charges against her husband – in exchange for a job at the municipality.

“She promised to hire me if I drop the charges.”

Mdantsane police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku confirmed a case of common assault was under investigation but said no one had been arrested.

However, councillor Gamnca dismissed allegations that “anyone” was assaulted at the meeting. Several attempts to source a comment from Gamnca’s husband were unsuccessful. —