Two IFP councillors from AbaQulusi, are among those who were arrested for assault and firing gunshots during the violent protests that began on Thursday night and continued into Friday afternoon.
Speaker, Michael Khumalo (IFP), confirmed that the councillors had been arrested yesterday and were being held at the Vryheid SAPS holding cells, awaiting their appearance in court tomorrow.
Cllr Khumalo added that the legal march that had been arranged by the IFP had been a peaceful one.
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“The IFP applied for that march, it had been well organized, the marshals were prepared thoroughly and it was conducted in a peaceful manner,” said Cllr Khumalo.
“Smanga’s (Smangaliso Zwane) people, however, burned tyres, damaged infrastructure, and disturbed the hawkers. It was a very violent march. Municipal property and infrastructure falls under the municipal manager (MM), so it will be up to the MM to open a case against them.”
Responding to allegations made by Smanga in a video interview with the Vryheid Herald, Cllr Khumalo claimed that Smanga was, “mentally disturbed,” and that he didn’t want to respond to Smanga, “because Smanga doesn’t know what he is talking about.”
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In the video interview (see below) Smanga accuses the speaker and his bodyguards of shooting at people and assaulting people.
“What Smanga is saying is not true. This never happened,” said Cllr Khumalo. “I actually don’t want to reduce myself to his level by responding to him.”
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