Councillor alleged to have assaulted a community member

What started as a community living without water led to a councillor allegedly assaulting a community member and counter allegations.

The whole scenario started with the community of Empumelelweni living without water for a long time according to Khangelani Buthelezi (29) who is now facing charges of common assault and malicious damage to property.
Buthelezi said water tankers used to supply them with water during that time and it happened one day that the tankers were allegedly directed to give water to Cllr Timothy Lukhele’s girlfriend’s house.

“I asked him to rather supply us with drinking water first before filling drums with water that were to be used for a building a house. That angered him and he said I know too much and started assaulting me. He was helped by a member of ward committee and also a CPF member Mr David Makhehla, they both assaulted me until I fell down. I then tried to open a case of assault at Vosman Police Station but I was charged for common assault and malicious damage to property.”

Khangelani Buthelezi (29) who alleges that he was assaulted by Cllr Timothy Lukhele’s.

Cllr Lukhele denied all the allegations and said he only pushed Buthelezi after he had caused trouble and was drunk during the said day. Cllr Lukhele said Buthelezi had caused trouble during the earlier delivery of water by the tanker.

“I was informed that Buthelezi with his two friends were preventing the tankers to deliver water at the agreed spots. They were drunk and are staying at the Extension 3 but had caused trouble at Extension 2 which is about two kilometres away. Buthelezi had earlier assaulted Makhehla and I was just assisting him and I just pushed Buthelezi away. Buthelezi is known within the community as troublesome and I have witnesses who can confirm that. He is presently under suspension for another case, he is just trouble,” noted Cllr Lukhele.

Makhehla said the video clip does not show when Buthelezi assaulted him and he was just making sure that tankers were delivering water at the agreed spots after being instructed by the Cllr Lukhele and Cllr Lukhele was just defending him.

“This is just a political game played by some people who are trying to paint me in a bad light and they won’t win. I am just a servant of the people delivering service to them, added Cllr Lukhele.

Buthelezi is out on a R500 bail and appeared at Vosman Court on Tuesday, October 20 and the case was postponed to another date.