MOKOPANE – POLICE acting under the orders of police general Mphalatji, and without a warrant, court order, provincial or national instruction, staged what can only be described as a coup d’etat at the Mogalakwena Municipality, said Dianne Kohler Barnard, DA shadow minister of police.
Police officials reportedly attacked security officers, staff and municipal councillors, pointed firearms at them and ordered them to lie on the floor. Officials ordered councillors to leave the buildings and took control of the municipal buildings.
“They allegedly arrested the municipal manager and forced the council to swear in nine new PR councillors. This meeting had no notice, agenda or democratic mandate and has to be considered illegal.
“The DA provincial leader, Jacques Smalle, has been refused access to the council buildings.”
Kohler said both the minister of police and of co-operative governance and traditional affairs must urgently appear before parliament to answer the following questions: Who authorised this action? On what grounds can the police ever intervene in the running of a municipality? What disciplinary action will be taken against the police officials involved? What assurance can they provide to ensure that a similar event does not re-occur?
General Mphalatji and his men must be thrown out of the municipal offices and arrested immediately. “I will liaise with the MEC for transport, safety and liaison Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, to request urgent action must taken by the SAPS.”
Limpopo police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, said the police officials in question acted on a court order that stated that mayor William Mabuela and his councillors were dismissed and on council property illegally.
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