Kathorus-based private investigator Tabo Buzwa, who is currently representing the more than 155 former employees who were retrenched by the old Germiston Council in 1993, has opened a case of intimidation at the Katlehong North police station, following a mysterious death threat made on him.
Buzwa, who has been negotiating with the Ekurhuleni Municipality on behalf of the retrenched employees since 2010, told Kathorus MAIL that this is the first time that his life has been threatened by what he says are “veiled sources”. “My dealings with the municipality have been open and above-board with no hidden agendas on the table. I find the threat uncalled for, especially since our encouraging last report-back meeting we had with Mr Koos Molobela, from the municipality’s internal audit office in Alberton on June 5.”
The meeting took place in a parking lot outside the Emabhodweni municipal offices in Katlehong North. There, Molobela gave a detailed report of the processes he followed in forwarding the enquiries of the employees to the municipality’s Forensic Audit Department. Buzwa said he was completely puzzled by the death threat call.
According to the private investigator the threatening call he received at around 11am on Monday, June 27, has now dampened the spirits of the former employees, whom he says were looking forward to a final settlement to their 23-year-old labour problem with the old Germiston City Council. Buzwa also described the call as “unsettling” as it came at a time when his team was also hopeful of a settlement following the June 5 meeting.
Refusing to go into details about the call, Buzwa confirmed that he had, however, laid a case of intimidation with the Katlehong SAPS. This came after a second caller warned him to stay away from where he was to meet with unknown men. They had called earlier, asking for a meeting with him for a labour consultation after they read about his involvement with the old Council employees’ story which they saw in the Kathorus MAIL the previous week.
“But I arrived with a friend at the appointed meeting place and waited without seeing anyone. Then after about 20 minutes, a second caller warned me to move away from where I had been instructed to meet with the earlier caller, because certain people hired to kill me were on their way.” Buzwa, said he and his friend hastily walked away from the busy corner.
The township-based private investigator from Buzwa Consulting and Private Investigations said he has been forced to open a criminal case against the person who called him to arrange the fake meeting. “But I have also tried to contact the second caller who alerted me to what may have been a plot to kill me,” said Buzwa.
Captain Mega Ndobe at the Ramokonopi SAPS Precinct confirmed that a case of intimidation was lodged with the Katlehong North SAPS. “All I can say for now is that the matter is in the hands of the investigating officer,” Ndobe said.
