Eastern Cape MEC Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolile Williams, has condemned a rising trend of attacks on public representative in the provinces.<\/p>\n
This comes after the MEC on Monday was made aware of another torching and shooting incident on Sunday evening against a councillor in the Port St. Johns Local Municipality.<\/p>\n
His office, in a statement, said Cllr Xolile Moni came under attack from unknown assailants who shot at him, injuring his son, and set his house alight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe latest incident follows earlier attacks against the Mayor and Speaker of Council in Port St Johns Local Municipality. In the evening of 4 October 2022, the residence of the Mayor, Cllr Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo, was set alight at night by unknown arsonists,\u201d said Ministry spokesperson Pheello Oliphant.<\/p>\n
This was immediately followed by the torching down of the residence of the Speaker of Council, Cllr Cebisa Mazuza.<\/p>\n
On 16 September 2022, Cllr Fundisile Ranai of Ingquza Hill Municipality together with his son were fatally shot at their home in Lusikisiki. The attackers are still at large.<\/p>\n
Williams was monitoring the trend with concern and condemned in the strongest possible terms the unfolding violence.<\/p>\n
On 6 October 2022, Williams wrote to the Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lt-General Lillian Mene, requesting a meeting to discuss a responsive security plan to deal with this growing trend of violence against elected public officials at local government level in especially the OR Tambo District.<\/p>\n
Oliphant said the request was agreed to by Lt-General Mene and the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 20 October 2022.<\/p>\n
In preparation for this meeting, the MEC had planned to undertake a visit to the OR Tambo District on 14 October 2022 with a view of discussing the evolving situation with the district leadership and all local municipalities.<\/p>\n
However, considering the recent incident, Williams has decided to bring forward this visit to Tuesday, 11 October 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MEC will meet the full council of the Port St Johns Local Municipality to discuss the issues that may be underlying the violence. This will be followed up by a meeting with local stakeholders and the police in the Port St Johns locality in a bid to find a community-based peace and stability plan that can help end the violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MEC will be accompanied by the Executive Mayor of O.R. Tambo District Municipality, Cllr. Mesuli Ngqondwana,\u201d said Oliphant.<\/p>\n
The MEC said it wished to see the end of the violence which could be avoided by roundtable talks.<\/p>\n
\u201cViolence is no substitute to constructive engagements,\u201d reads the statement.<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eastern Cape MEC Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolile Williams, has condemned a rising trend of attacks on public representative in the provinces. This comes after the MEC on Monday was made aware of another torching and shooting incident on Sunday evening against a councillor in the Port St. Johns Local Municipality. His office, … <\/p>\n