Threats of murder and mayhem laid bare in explosive council forum
The Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front was openly accused of instigating not only labour unrest, but violence against fellow councillors, during an explosive online council forum which ended only minutes ago.
None pointed the finger explicitly at the MHRF but the party’s Thato Mathunyane immediately assumed responsibility on behalf of his caucus, after the MHRF’s Jomo Segage also said the party acknowledged the perception of “being a disruptive force within council”.
Segage bluntly warned councillors that there were plans to attack particularly ANC councillors following the petrol bombing of strike instigator Kgosi Makwati’s home on Tuesday.
Municipal Manager, Advocate Bheki Khenisa, alluded to a discussion with another councillor warning him of his impeding murder, opting not to identify the councillor.
Segage brought the shocking warnings of looming violent chaos to the fore after highlighting allegations “that a group linked to the MM” was responsible for the torching of Makwati’s house, adding that the MHRF would never support any violence, especially towards councillors, while expressing worry over a return to “black-on-black” violence.
The meeting was called by Mayor Masilela Mhlonishwa and Advocate Khenisa to brief councillors on the current state of affairs around the third municipal strike since September last year.
According to the political and administrative heads, employees are disgruntled because they expected much more money than what they actually received after the municipality was benchmarked on post gradings against Nkomazi Municipality, which the employees themselves insisted on.
They are again demanding to be bumped up to level 5 grade salaries, despite the municipality not qualifying for the upgrade over the size of the population and budget. Employees are also demanding the immediate removal of Advocate Khenisa from office.
The DA’s Hennie Niemann who chairs the Municipal Public Accounts Committee weighed in saying the municipality and council were showing “weak leadership” and urged the no-work no-pay policy to be implemented.
Both the EFF and MHRF called for a formal council sitting so that a constitutional council decision on a way forward can be reached.
Despite calls from the DA’s Palesa Mobango “for the MM and mayor to tell us what they are going to do to improve matters today,” no answers were given.
Mobango riled Segage when she said “councillors with their ears on the ground were instigating the unrest,” spurring Segage to urge those with proof to engage with the police.
Advocate Khenisa, in turn, threw the hot potato back into Segage’s lap, saying he should be afforded the same protection, insisting that “those with proof of my involvement with the burning of Mawakti’s house, should take a leaf from Segage’s playbook “and engage the police”.
He also called out the EFF for condemning the arson attack on Makwati’s house, but not the string of petrol bombings and damage to vehicles a number of municipal employees suffered at the hands of the striking employees.
The ANC’s Letsatsi Nkwana said “workers don’t know what they want anymore,” before adding “how can the ANC be expected to engage with them when there’s death threats abound,” emphasizing “this cannot be taken lightly”.
The DA’s Mobango called for police protection of all councillors, but especially ones “Residing in Mhluzi”.
The only decision reached on the forum was that electricity sales will be open to all until the strike is called off.
• A special council will be called early next week.
