Councillor charged with kidnapping and assault
ANC Councillor William Monty Phetla, who was arrested with three other men on charges of assault and kidnapping, is currently attending a council sitting at the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.
Cllr Phetla, along with three other co-accused, appeared before the Middelburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The four men are facing charges of assault and kidnapping, stemming from an incident in which they allegedly abducted a 29-year-old domestic worker last Saturday.
The woman, who is pregnant, was accused of stealing the councillor’s laptop.
According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Police, “She was subjected to a severe assault with various objects, including a garden spade, before being confined to a room by the accused”.
The Mhluzi Police managed to trace and apprehend the four men.
Cllr Phetla was granted bail of the amount of R3000, while each of his co-accused’s received R500 bail.
The matter was adjourned to August 25.
