Councillors fail in bid to have charges of assault withdrawn

TWO Nelson Mandela Bay ANC councillors have failed in their attempt to have charges of assault withdrawn against them.

Andile Lungisa, 39, and Gamalihleli Maqula, 28, who face charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a council brawl last year, will now have to stand trial later this year.

Defence attorney Luthando Ngqakayi had made written representations to the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in a bid to have the charges withdrawn without the men having to stand trial.

Yesterday, the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court heard that the representations had been unsuccessful.

Further details about these representations and why they were not successful were not revealed in court.

Both accused were previously excused from yesterday’s proceedings and were not before court.

Lungisa stands accused of hitting mayoral committee member for roads and transport, Rano Kayser, over the head with a glass jug of water‚ while Maqula, a ward 19 councillor, is accused of stabbing DA chief whip Werner Senekal in the back with a sharp object during a heated council meeting in October.

The alleged incident was caught on camera.

A trial date was arranged yesterday for November 6 and 7.