Attack claims by ANC leaders
Branch chairperson claims opponent’s gang assaulted him, while councillor’s house is petrol-bombed ZINE GEORGE Political Editor zineg@disptch.co.za Police are investigating an assault case against a Buffalo City ANC councillor who allegedly held a Breidbach ANC leader hostage, while her friends and husband assaulted the victim.
BCM Ward 44 councillor Sixolisiwe Ntsasela is accused of ganging up with her husband, Welisile Ntsasela, and three friends and attacking ANC branch chairperson Thembani Yengeni on Wednesday. Ntsasela has denied the allegation. Yengeni said he had met fellow sub-branch leaders on Wednesday at the Breidbach community hall to brief them on the outcomes of the Dr WB Rubusana regional conference.
Yengeni said at about 5.30pm, they were joined by councillor Ntsasela, her husband Welisile, and three of their “friends”.
Yengeni claims the five demanded to know why they had not been invited to the meeting as they were also ANC leaders in the area. “I explained the reason why, saying this was not a general meeting and that I was rushing elsewhere.
“The councillor and one of her friends walked out and locked me inside and watched as her husband manhandled me, kicked me and hit me against the door, accusing me of trying to take his wife’s job,” said Yengeni.
Yengeni’s driver, who was waiting outside, then rushed to call the police.
“My nose was bleeding heavily and so I screamed for help. And fortunately for me they were distracted by a white car driving towards the community hall. They thought it was the police and so unlocked the gates.
“I ran for my life and went to the police station and filed a case,” said Yengeni.
He said he had supported Pumlani Mkolo’s group at the conference, while Ntsasela had campaigned for Mayor Xola Pakati to serve a second term as chairperson, a bid which failed. King William’s Town police spokesperson Captain Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed a case of assault with grievous bodily harm was opened on Thursday at the KWT SAPS.
“The police investigation continues,” said Mawisa.
Ntasela said: “I don’t know what these people are talking about. I am yet to see and present my case to the police. But nothing of that sort happened here.”
● Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, a Ward 30 BCM ANC councillor’s house was petrol-bombed, forcing her family to flee.
Nomonde Moyikwa said the attack occurred at about 1am on Friday, while her two grandchildren were asleep and her daughters, aged 32 and 26, were watching TV.
“I heard something smashing the front window, and immediately thereafter another bottle hit my bedroom wall.
“Smoke fumes engulfed the entire house as curtains and a sofa in my main lounge had caught fire,” said Moyikwa.
She said the police were called and neighbours helped to douse the fire.
“I am still shaking. I sent my children into hiding as I am still waiting for police to conduct their investigation,” said Moyikwa.
BCM spokesperson Sam Ngwenya confirmed the incident, saying the metro had also “deployed two law-enforcement officers to secure the scene, based on our interim security assessment” .
“At this stage, the matter has been brought to the attention of the Speaker [Alfred Mtsi], who will undertake an investigation into the circumstances, as an office responsible for the welfare of councillors,” said Ngwenya.
Moyikwa has been accused of hiring people from other areas as contract workers on a metro project to fix potholes in the area.
She said her “enemies” confiscated construction tools from workers on Tuesday.
“They are accusing me of hiring friends and that is not the case,” she said.
Protesters threw faeces at Moyikwa’s house in May, leading to the arrest of two people who appeared in the Mdantsane magistrate’s court in June. The case is ongoing.
No arrests have been made in connection with the petrol bombing.