Town’s leadership is under siege
PORT ST Johns mayor Nomvuzo Mlombile-cingo and ANC chief whip Xolile Moni have been receiving death threats and now their homes have been torched and their families attacked.
The Sajonisi Woods Forum, a business association, has demanded that Mlombile-cingo, Moni and portfolio head of Engineering and Planning Services, councillor Gcina Tshotho, resign, alleging that they were incapable of doing their jobs.
The forum members had also demanded that they quit because they were not originally from the area and that Mlombile-cingo allegedly overlooked local candidates for vacant senior management positions and short-listed candidates from other municipalities.
They blocked access routes to the town since last week.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkholi confirmed that on Wednesday protesters stopped eight trucks and in the process a number jack-knifed.
“Some protesters took keys away from drivers. Attempts to remove the trucks failed. However, on Thursday government towing services were used to remove trucks from the road,” said Nkholi.
He said on October 5, Mlombile-cingo’s house was torched.
“Some of her belongings were destroyed by the fire that engulfed her residence,” said Nkholi.
He added that on October 9 unknown suspects fired shots at Moni’s house.
“Three people managed to flee, but a 33-year man (Moni’s nephew) sustained a gunshot wound. After the shooting, the house was engulfed in flames,” said Nkholi.
Police had opened a case of contravention of the Road Traffic Act and an intimidation docket.
With regard to the attacks on the homes, Nkholi said malicious damage to property, attempted murder and arson dockets had been opened.
A team of detectives has been assigned to the cases, and arrests were imminent.
Executive member of the Sajonisi Woods Forum, Nzamela Nqoyini, said the forum would continue protesting until the councillors resigned.
“It is because of the incapacity of the mayor and the councillors that the town cannot develop. They keep hiring managers that are not capable of taking the town to the next level in terms of development. We had nothing to do with the house fires. We will continue with strike action until our demands are met,” said Nqoyini.
However, Mlombile-cingo said she had met with the forum last week and explained the process of appointments in the municipality.
She said it was done through the council and she was not responsible for it.
“Other councillors and I have received death threats during the meeting. I am surprised that it went to the extent of my house being torched. I don’t know who did this – it’s up to the police to investigate. I was not put in this position by people in the forum. The ANC elects a mayor with the council. You don’t resign on the street – you resign in council,” she said.
Moni said he was concerned for the safety of his family.
“The intentions were to kill me. When we tried to engage with the structure, their message was that we step down and let them run their town. This (incident) is not only a despicable crime, but it has subjected my family to a very traumatic experience, posing a threat to our safety.
“We almost lost a life and that is not something to take lightly. The culprits are still roaming our streets and remain unknown, while my nephew is fighting for his life in hospital. We remain concerned because no one has been arrested.
“We have been called to resign and have advised them that it can be done the same way we were appointed – only if the organisation sees fit,” he said.
Tshotho was unavailable for comment.