Cases opened after chaos at council meeting of Govan Mbeki Municipality
Residents of Brendan Village stormed the council chamber because they are angry about their electricity supply.
Chairs flew and water bottles were flung at councillors when a group of Brendan Village residents forced their way into the council chamber of the Govan Mbeki Municipality on July 31.
The council was in session at the time.
The law enforcement officers were overpowered when they tried to lock the chamber’s door. The chanting and singing group caught the councillors off guard. Some councillors tried to escape but it was too late.
The angry mob shouted the name of the municipality’s Mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, forcing their way to where Zuma was sitting.
While pushing to reach him, law enforcers, bodyguards and some male councillors, who were trying to block their way, were pushed to the ground.
Wendy Masango, the new EFF councillor who was ready to be introduced as the person who will replace the late councillor Mlungisi Nkosi, was thrown with a chair and fell down.
Marian Chamberlain, the DA councillor, was slapped. These incidents were captured on video.
The Brendan Village residents wanted Zuma to explain why they are without electricity. They also demanded municipality lift the suspension of two employees suspended for three months with pay pending their disciplinary hearing.
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After the arrival of the police, the rioters waited outside the chamber for the mayor to address them.
All councillors were summoned back to the chamber and after a while, the police escorted Zuma to meet with the residents, who accused him of dishonesty.
They claim that at a meeting early last month, Zuma promised that he and representatives of the Evander Gold Mine would conduct an assessment at Brendan Village, but it never happened.
Sifiso Zulu said the reason for disrupting the meeting was to ask for the suspension of the employees to be lifted and then, together with the mayor, to conduct the assessment.
“Today is July 31. We have notified you that the date that you promised to come to us has already passed but you never responded.
“When we had a meeting with you and your mayoral committee in July, you also assured us that employees will return to work, but instead you suspended another three employees,” said Zulu.
Zuma refuted Zulu’s claims. He said he had explained that he did negotiate with the mine on their behalf.
According to him, the residents were happy.
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He said he did give them feedback. The mine indicated that the substation was damaged and the electricity now has to be supplied through the use of transmission cables.
Zuma also said some of the residents who are supposed to be part of the team that must conduct the assessment have been banned by the Evander Gold Mines.
“I did explain to your leaders that it will not be possible to force the mine to uplift that ban,” said Zuma.
Zuma said the municipality cannot conduct an assessment or inspection alone at the village because the municipality is not allowed to budget for a place that is not proclaimed as the township establishment by the municipal council.
Concerning the suspended workers, Zuma said he has heard the residents’ concern and that he will pass it on to the municipal manager, Elliot Maseko, but he won’t interfere with his work.
“The relationship between the employer and employee is their relationship, it doesn’t include community or anybody else.
“As a mayor, I don’t take decisions on who must be charged or who must be dismissed but it is the decision of the municipal manager,” said Zuma.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality communications department said the municipality will not comment as the matter is subject to investigation and will respond in due course.
