EFF bigwig in hot water for alleged assault

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Provincial Secretary, Jossey Buthane was apprehended yesterday (Wednesday) morning by Police and warned to appear in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday) on a charge of common assault.
This after a student from the University of Limpopo (UL) opened a case at the Man­kweng Police Station following an incident on 17 August when Buthane allegedly hit him on the head with a wooden object.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Ronel Otto confirmed that Buthane was warned to appear in court today. To concerns raised about why it took Police so long to arrest Buthane Otto said: “It is procedure in any common assault case to have the case investigated properly before a suspect is warned to appear in court. We do not arrest suspects in common assault cases immediately as we have to work closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine whether the case has enough merit to stand in court.”
Mogale Mathete, a student at UL where the Student Representative Council (SRC) is headed by the EFF explained that on the day of the incident Butane and several other EFF members entered the premises of UL and allegedly disrupted some of the classes. Mathete, a member of the African National Congress Youth League (Ancyl) and South African Students Congress (Sasco) explained: “We moved to the student centre to avoid confrontation but were followed by EFF members when I was hit on the head with a wooden object by Buthane. My hand was also injured during the process to block the blow to my head. I fled the student centre to report the matter at the university’s health centre and to seek medical treatment. An ambulance was called and I was transported to Mankweng Provincial Hospital,” Mathete claimed. His biggest concern was that he had been discharged from hospital in late April after being diagnosed with a brain tumour and receiving treatment.
Buthane said he was aware of a case being opened against him but denied allegations of assault of any student. “The SRC had some challenges on that specific day and asked the provincial office of the EFF to intervene. We went to UL to address the university’s management on some of the challenges faced by the SRC. But at no stage did I assault any student. Where would I get a wooden object from to hit a student on the head?” Buthane said.
Allegations that Buthane recently enrolled at UL for a law degree and was running for presidency of the SRC were also denied.
“I did not enrol for this semester as my responsibilities at the EFF do not allow me sufficient time to study. I am not interested in the presidency of the SRC. We have young capable members and students at UL to fulfil their positions as members of the SRC,” Buthane said.

Story: RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com