Police investigations after two incidents during elections

Police in Malamulele arrested three suspects on charges of malicious damage to property, assault of Police officers and attempted murder during the Municipal Elections last Wednesday.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Ronel Otto said a woman and two men appeared in the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court last Friday and the woman was released on R5 000 bail while the men remained in custody. They were expected to appear in court again on Monday. Otto could not provide their names or the outcome of the case.
“A man visited the voting station at Xigalo Primary School to cast his vote when his cell phone rang and he answered it. An Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) official allegedly told the man that he was not allowed to speak on the phone inside the voting station where after an argument erupted. Police called to the scene found a group of people arguing and tried to disperse the group. The group then turned violent against Police throwing stones at them. One officer’s firearm was stolen in the process while another officer was assaulted,” Otto said.
Officers allegedly fired three warning shots. A Police officer chased after the suspect who had taken the pistol with a vehicle. The suspect disposed of the firearm in the process and it was recovered.
“The member collided with a fence and in the process knocking down a woman with the vehicle. She was injured and taken to Malamulele Hospital where she is recovering well,” Otto said.
In Thohoyandou Police opened a case of pointing of a firearm the same day.
“Tension between supporters from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and African National Congress (ANC) arose over loud music being played by ANC supporters at the voting station on the University of Venda campus. It is alleged that an EFF supporter switched off the sound system prior to Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba’s address to the community. It is further alleged that the MEC’s bodyguard then produced a firearm and pointed it to the EFF member,” Otto said.
Both cases are still being investigated.

Story: RC Myburgh
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