Prospective councillor assaulted, house ransacked

A prospective African National Congress (ANC) councillor’s house in Extension 73 was allegedly ransacked by members of the Police during an early morning visit and another prominent community leader’s car was vandalised.
Botha Mphahlele, Chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Ward 8 told Polokwane Observer that he woke at about 03:00 on Friday when members of the Police entered his house after allegedly ripping the security door from its hinges. “They ransacked the house and said that they are looking for a firearm. They did not find anything and handcuffed me and I was assaulted. They hurt both my arms and my back. They then put me in the back of a Police bakkie and instructed me to take them to the house of Pekane Mamabolo, Chairperson of the Joe Modise ANC Branch. They did not go into the house but broke into Mamabolo’s vehicle. I was then taken to the Seshego Police station where I was later released,” Mphahlele claimed.
Mamabolo confirmed that his Toyota Conquest had been vandalised outside his house during the night. “I slept in my house and was unaware of the visit. Only this morning did I realise that my car had been broken into and that all my sound equipment was gone,” Mamabolo said.
A group of residents gathered outside Mphahlele’s house on Friday morning. “We are here to support Mphahlele and are disturbed by the fact that community members with political aspirations use the Police to promote their agendas. There are two ANC groups in the ward which support two different candidates to represent the ward in the municipal elections and we see this incident as victimisation of our preferred candidate,” one of the residents gathered at Mamabolo’s house said.
Mothemane Malefo, Spokesperson of the Seshego Police, confirmed that a charge of common assault was registered and that the matter is under investigation.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Botha Mphahlele, Chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) Ward 8 in his house in Polokwane Extension 73 that was allegedly ransacked by members of the South African Police.