A Kempton Park DA ward councillor was injured in the scuffles that broke out during the Ekurhuleni State of the City Address (SOCA) in Germiston earlier this morning.
Clr Simon Lapping was taken to Roseacres Clinic in the city after suffering injuries to his leg and head.
It is believed he got caught up in scuffles between EFF members and metro police officials.
According to his wife Anneli he will undergo a CT scan this afternoon. She said everything was still very confusing to her.
Also read:
• WATCH: Chaos breaks out at State of the City address
The State of the City address did not even get started when chaos erupted in the Germiston Council Chambers. EFF councillors were forcefully removed by members of the metro police.
After the singing of the national anthem by the EMPD choir, the mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina, was called to the podium to present the State of the City address.
However, before he could even say good morning the EFF interrupted with points of order, Germiston City News reported.
They asked the speaker, Clr Patricia Kumalo, to ensure that private security personnel would not enter the chambers and intimidate councillors, who were trying to do their jobs.
“They masquerade as private security personnel but we know they are nothing more than hooligans,” the EFF said.
The mayor then took his seat while the point of order was addressed.
The EFF further insisted on a full report, they claim was promised, on the incident involving private security personnel which occurred at the recent special council meeting.
The speaker, who could not keep control of the meeting, stated she had addressed the points of order but the EFF disagreed. She told the EFF if they did not want to be part of the meeting they should leave.
This remark caused a screaming match between the councillors and the speaker summoned the metro police into the chambers to remove EFF members.
DA members all pulled out red cards and told the EMPD officers to get out of the chambers and the DA and EFF members scuffled with the officers.
Masina eventually decided to leave the council chambers and go outside to address the public.
