The Azanian Residents Party is appealing to the community to remain calm after its president, John Mahlangu was arrested for the alleged assault of an eMbalenhle woman.
John Mahlangu, who is also the ARP’s PR councillor at Govan Mbeki Municipality, was arrested on September 16 and is facings a charge of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was in police custody until Friday, September 23 when the Evander Magistrate’s Court granted him bail of R1 000.
Mahlangu testified the previous day he also has another case pending. The assault case was postponed to November 10 for further investigation.
The ARP’s secretary general, Thabiso Khoza, said last week while Mahlangu was still in the cells that they do not yet have the full story.
“Unfortunately, the party do not yet have our president’s side of the story. There is only the allegation from the alleged victim.
“We urge the community to remain calm until we hear from our president,” said Khoza.
He accused the media of being quick to publish the one-sided allegations without even hearing Mahlangu’s side of the story in court.
“The matter is now in the hands of justice and we warn media houses not to distort information that will jeopardise the investigation,” said Khoza
He said the party believes that Mahlangu’s arrest emanated from the recent motion he tabled in council to unseat the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s executive mayor, Nhkakanipho Zuma.
Khoza also said the ARP opponents will do what they can to provoke their president into losing focus. Mahlangu began his bail application on Thursday, September 22 where he testified he also has another case pending.
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