BARBERTON – The member of the provincial legislature who is facing charges for assault allegedly committed while he was MEC for human settlements, is to reappear in court today. In October, the case was postponed until today for the trial to commence.
Mr Siphosezwe Masango, the former MEC, is facing charges of assault along with two of his bodyguards in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court. They allegedly assaulted Mr Gert van der Merwe in July 2012.
The incident apparently happened at the Nkomazi Toll Gate when Van der Merwe accused Masango and his bodyguards, Mr Sammy Mtomboti and Mr Manqoba Nkengane of driving recklessly.
The former MEC’s convoy was reportedly speeding along the N4 while recklessly overtaking fellow drivers. It has been reported that Van der Merwe apparently started hooting at them and was then supposedly assaulted.
Masango is thought to have hit him while Mtomboti and Nkengane sprayed him with tear gas. Two security guards working at the toll gate were allegedly also attacked when they tried to intervene.
