‘He tried to kill me’: ANC councillor wields gun at community meeting

A community meeting with officials from Mohokare Local Municipality almost turned deadly after a councillor threatened one of the residents with a firearm before chasing him in a car.

The gun-toting African National Congress (ANC) Ward 1 councillor Pule Petrus Mahapane is also a pastor and businessman who owns a thriving mortuary business.

The incident happened at a local stadium in Matlakeng in Zastron, Free State last week.

Gunman’s car chase

Speaking to The Citizen, Johnny Chabedi said he got the shock of his life when Mahapane pointed a gun at him following a tense meeting.

“I told him the truth in that meeting, that there’s a job for pals at Mohokare under the councillors’ watch. We have proof of their corrupt activities, they use communities for their own political gain.

“Towards the end of the meeting, Mahapane left and went to his vehicle. He took out a cloth under the seat, unwrapped it, and produced a gun,” said Chabedi.

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The councillor allegedly walked back to the gathering brandishing the firearm. By that time, people were starting to leave the venue.

Chabedi said he saw Mahapane coming towards him pointing a firearm at him, and he started to run.

“People were shouting at me to run. I don’t know what would have happened had I waited for him to reach me.

“As I was running outside the stadium, I saw his car racing towards me, he decided to chase me and probably wanted to run me over.

“I went behind the stadium and into a narrow path, he couldn’t drive through it, so he stopped and made a U-turn.

“Mahapane tried to kill me, it was the first time I was pointed [at] with a gun. I am now scared to leave my home, I startle every time there’s a knock on the door,” he said.

Chabedi said he fell on the ground during the chase and suffered bruises on his knees. He was later accompanied by some residents to the police to open a case against the councillor.

Another resident who attended the meeting said Mahapane came back looking angry with a gun in his hand.

“I was walking away when he was returning with the gun. Most people were already by the exit leaving.

“I stopped and walked back and saw him charging towards someone, it became dangerous for those still inside, we just ran away to avoid getting shot,” said Kebby Lemaone.

He added that Mahapane went after Chabedi in his car as shocked residents looked on.

‘I didn’t have my gun with me’

Chabedi said Mahapane and his entourage arrived at a police station shortly after him. He said they caused a commotion, demanding to also open a defamation case against Chabedi.

The officer assisting Chabedi turned into a mediator, he said, and drafted an agreement which was signed by both parties.

According to Chabedi, the document stated that he forgave Mahapane for his actions.

“It was me against his entourage and an officer who failed to open a criminal case,” he said.

When he went back to insist that a case be opened, the officer he identified as Makhetla refused to do so, telling him to “move on and avoid problems”.

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Meanwhile, Mahapane denied brandishing a gun at a public meeting.

He said he went to his car to fetch a case for his sunglasses.

“It is all lies, I didn’t have my gun with me that day. The meeting was about to end when I went to the car.

“I returned to find only a few people left, some of the councillors had already left. I then drove out and left,” he said.

Mahapane said he went to open a case against Chabedi for defaming him at the meeting.

‘We are tired of Mahapane’

But another resident Mpho Makgatla accused Mahapane of lying.

“We were there, we saw everything. I didn’t see the gun but I saw Johnny running out of the stadium. We accompanied him to the police but got no help.

“We are sick and tired of councillors like Mahapane, police must do their job and charge him with attempted murder, I am prepared to be a witness in court,” she said.

Contacted for comment, police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said Chabedi’s complaint against Zastron police will be looked into.

“But I can tell you that a case was supposed to be opened on that day. What the police did was wrong,” he said.

Worst-run municipality

Mohokare is one of the most dysfunctional municipalities in the country and is marred by rolling protests.

Fraud and corruption allegations continue to hang over Mayor Zingisa Mgawuli and her team.

Workers recently told the SABC that they haven’t been paid their salaries, and that Mohokare doesn’t pay over deductions to pension funds.

One employee said management told them that their September, October and November salaries would only be paid in December after the equitable share is received from national government.

The unpaid workers do not turn up for work and instead join community protestors who go for weeks without water and other basic services.

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