Ex-mayor recovers from council meeting ‘beating’
THE ANC in Ekurhuleni said the former mayor of the city, Mzwandile Masina, was “recovering from his injuries”, after he was allegedly assaulted and manhandled by private security guards and Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers last week.
Videos of Masina being dragged out of a council meeting have been circulating on social media.
The former mayor was expected to lay criminal charges against the speaker of the council and the mayor, Tania Campbell.
Yesterday, the ANC in the region said Masina had been advised to seek medical attention. The ANC would meet this week to decide on its next move.
The ANC’s chief whip in the council, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, told The Star that they had been embarrassed by the video of Masina being dragged out of the council chamber.
He accused the DA of planning the entire episode and embarrassing
Masina and the ANC intentionally.
“We suspect that this was a plan. It is clear that the former mayor was treated badly and he experienced some beatings from the EMPD officers and private security officers. We will meet to discuss the way forward,” Dlabathi said.
Dlabathi accused the speaker of the council, Raymond Dlamini, of being incompetent. He said there was no need to call private security guards to eject the ex-mayor from the council chamber.
“We believe that the speaker could have done better as the chairperson of the council. He should be patient and tolerant and be able to facilitate discussions. But instead of facilitating debate, he called the metro police,” Dlabathi said.
“This DA-led coalition is fragile … These are individuals who are not strong, and there is a lack of direction that the city should take. Some in the coalition are not happy about what happened at the council meeting,” Dlabathi said.
Meanwhile, the multiparty coalition in Ekurhuleni has accused the ANC of misbehaving and deliberately disrupting the business of the council.
“Their behaviour deteriorated to such an extent that Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers had to be summoned to secure the OR Tambo Precinct, and to ensure the safety of non-ANC councillors,” the multi-party government said.
The multiparty government further said Masina has failed to raise constructive points during the debate in council. They described his speech as “rambling”.