I did not lie about death threats, says DA councillor
Allegations emerge about differing motives for safety fear claim
The Democratic Alliance said it is investigating allegations that one of its Buffalo City Metro councillors lied about receiving a politically motivated death threat.
However, DA councillor Mawethu Kosani denied the allegation and said he believed his life was still in danger. In August Kosani filed a complaint with the police, alleging that he had received a death threat against him and his family.
He received an envelope containing three bullets, two taped to a photo of him and his daughter, and the third on a message warning him to drop a motion he had filed with the council about the processes followed in the appointment to the municipality of ANC WB Rubusana regional spokesperson Vuyo Jali.
The note also revealed the names of his children, his car registration numbers and his address, and gave him a deadline of October 28 to withdraw the motion.
Council speaker Humphrey Maxegwana confirmed that the municipality submitted a report to the council on the security issue and that it had been accepted.
The city has since provided Kosani with security, pending a security risk assessment by the police.
However, DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga said allegations have since surfaced that Kosani may have lied about the political motive for the threat to his life.
Bhanga said the party had taken the matter to its national structures after it was brought to his and the provincial leadership’s attention.
“The DA is investigating this issue. We have processed it to the federal legal council to check the legality of this issue.”
Bhanga said he had been alerted to claim against Kosani was made by a police officer,
I heard about that [the allegations by the officer]. The same person came to my house while I was in hiding and under protection. He even compromised my protection through and through, and the police themselves, the station commander, are aware of this thing
who he declined to name.
“The guy [policeman] wrote a letter to me and the provincial executive,” Bhanga said.
The provincial leader has not yet discussed the matter with Kosani directly.
Maxegwana said he would reach out to the council’s DA leader, Sue Bentley, for more information before taking any further steps.
Several sources within the municipality and other politicians said a police officer had come forward, alleging that a personal matter may be behind Kosani coming forward for protection. Kosani said he was not aware that the DA had taken the matter to its federal legal council and had not received any written communication about it.
He maintained that he had received threats against his life. He admitted knowing the police officer who have brought the allegations against him.
“I heard about that [the allegations by the officer]. The same person came to my house while I was in hiding and under protection.
“He even compromised my protection through and through, and the police themselves, the station commander, are aware of this thing.”
Kosani, who is still being accompanied by security personnel, said he viewed the threats made against him and his family in a serious light. He said the matter had been especially hard on his eldest daughter, who he has since had to pull out of school.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said an investigation into the threats was at an advanced stage, and no further details would be made available.