EFF member opens a case of assault against mayor

ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters (EFF) member, Pfano Murudi, laid an assault charge against the Musina mayor, Carol Phiri after Murudi was allegedly bitten in a political brawl on Saturday.

The scuffle happened when ANC members rode in a motorcade, celebrating their election win, when they met a taxi filled with EFF members. A fight broke out between the members of the two parties.

Murudi (28) told CV that a taxi driver, Reuben Rammbwa, who was in EFF colours, gave the signal that he wanted to turn into another street when Phiri blocked the road with her luxury vehicle. She said Phiri alighted from her vehicle and opened the taxi driver’s door.

Murudi said Phiri claimed that EFF members were provoking ANC members.

“She picked up a brick and hit the driver on the forehead. Rammbwa asked Phiri why she hit him. He did not fight back, saying he cannot fight a woman. The mayor took another brick and hit Rammbwa again; this time on the arm.

“I got out of the taxi. As I moved closer to see what was going on, the mayor grabbed me and bit me on the elbow because I was wearing an EFF T-shirt.

“I did not fight back. To my great surprise, the Musina police refused to open a case and told me I had to go back to the mayor to talk things over. I phoned other EFF members for help and finally a case was opened. I asked the police officials why they did not arrest her, but they did not answer me. They sent me a case number on Sunday, but the name of the investigating officer was left out of the police report,” she said.

Murudi claimed she experienced hatred from ANC members when she joined the EFF. “An ANC councillor previously told me that the Musina Municipality would never give me a job.”

Provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that an assault charge was laid against Phiri. He said Phiri laid a counter charge of crimen injuria and intimidation against the EFF members involved.

“We can’t just arrest people without evidence. The police are still collecting information. There are allegations that Phiri was not even at the scene.

“We will take this matter to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for a decision. If anybody opened a case with false information, he or she will be charged with perjury,” said Mulaudzi.

EFF leader in Musina, Brighton Mathola said the mayor intimidated EFF members by saying that she had money and there was nothing they could do to her.

Spokesperson of the ANC in Limpopo, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Frans Mohlala House was not aware of the incident and that she would investigate the matter.

By the time of going to print, Phiri’s office did not respond to CV’s questions about this incident.