IFP Speaker in Vryheid arrested for theft of fire engine’s generator

Police confirmed that AbaQulusi Speaker, Michael Khumalo (IFP), was arrested from his offices at the Vryheid municipal building this afternoon, Vryheid Herald reports.

His arrest follows allegations made by members of the ANC that Cllr Khumalo ‘stole’ a generator out off a municipal fire engine in 2017, and kept it at his homestead for the past two years for his personal use.

Cllr Khumalo admitted to having the generator at his homestead but claimed it was being stored there after it was used for a road show in his ward, as there were no safe government facilities in the area. He added that he had no reason to steal the municipal generator as he had a generator of his own as well as solar panels for the electrification of his home.

ANC members, however, alleged staff had confided in them that Cllr Khumalo had instructed them to transport the generator to his home for a family funeral, and he kept it for his private use.

Members of the Asset Forfeiture Unit seized the generator from Cllr Khumalo’s homestead on November 22. Cllr Khumalo reported the generator stolen at the Gluckstadt police station the very next day, saying the officers who raided his home had not made contact with him, the local police, or the municipality, to explain why they had taken the generator.

In a media statement released on Monday afternoon, Cllr Khumalo told the media he knew that the SAPS was planning to arrest him today (December 5) and accused the ANC of using SAPS to “fight political battles against the IFP leadership at AbaQulusi.”

Upon hearing of Cllr Khumalo’s arrest this afternoon ANC spokesperson, Ricardo Mthembu, said he hopes this will send a strong message to anyone who abuses public property for self-gain.

“We are happy that justice is taking its course. We will leave everything in the hands of the court,” said Mr Mthembu.

Cllr Khumalo appeared briefly before the Vryheid Magistrates Court late this afternoon, where he was released on bail.

Attempts to reach Cllr Khumalo, IFP regional chairperson, Sifiso Mkhwanazi, and IFP national chairperson, Blessed Gwala, were unsuccessful at the time of publishing.