Death threats issued to DA Councillor and his family
VIDEO: Nyembe fights for his rights.
Democratic Alliance Councillor Thulani Nyembe has received death threats after he started questioning the validity of the process that was followed in the allocation of RDP houses in Extension 8 and the new Obed Nkosi development.
Hear what the Councillor has to say by watching the video below:
Despite threats issued to his girlfriend and family, the Councillor at Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM) has vowed to continue to fight for the rights of residents who feel they should have received RDP houses.
Nyembe is, however, no stranger to intimidation of this nature as he has been shot at on no less than two occasions over the past six months.
His girlfriend Ntombi was also subjected to terrorisation in recent times and was told by a group of men who had agreed to give her a lift, that they knew who her boyfriend was and that they had tried to “bring him down”.
The incident these men may have referred to, took place in Ratanda a few months ago when a white Toyota Avanza pulled up next to Nyembe.
“There were three men in the car. One produced a gun and fired a shot in my direction,” he told HERAUT.
The culprits missed their target and drove off. A few weeks later, this time in Extension 23, Nyembe survived another attempt on his life.
He said that he suspected it was the same assailants because they drove the same colour and model vehicle.
“They shot at me again and at first I thought it might just be a coincidence or that it was related to a party or something, but when my girlfriend was abducted two weeks ago, I knew they were out to get me,” Nyembe said.
Girlfriend abducted
Ntombi Mzangwa was forced into a car by four men who said they would give her a lift to Sasolburg where she was doing a rural development course. She said that they took her to a plot near Meyerton where they threatened to kill her.
The eldest of the four men (believed to be a Sangoma) was armed, but later decided that they would not kill her.
She was dropped off at the graveyard situated next to Emmasdal. Mzangwa reported the abduction to Ratanda SAPS who are investigating the matter.
On Saturday (April 1) Nyembe was again targeted, and it was no April Fool’s joke.
This time he received a text message from a group he believes is trying to stop him from finding out the truth behind the Obed Nkosi development saga.
“Your unborn child and your girlfriend lives are in danger [sic]. you talk too much and warned you before but it seems like you don’t listen. Come Monday Uzokhala Cllr Nyembe. don’t try anything stupid. We have eyes everywhere…” the message read.
Nyembe insisted that transparent governance is something he was willing to die for – adding that he would like nothing more than to see the original documentation that was used when Ratanda residents were first given the chance to apply for RDP houses.
