THE husband of a Limpopo mayor has allegedly assaulted an ANC member who disagreed with his wife at a branch meeting.
The incident happened at a branch meeting at Botlokwa on Saturday when the Mabjaneng branch of ward 8 in the Molemole municipality was meeting to finalise its nominations ahead of the ANC provincial elective conference, scheduled for December 17 to 20.
Mayor Paulina Makgato had gone to the meeting as a party deployee, but had allegedly insisted on running the programme.
According to ANC policy the branch chairman and not deployees chairs meetings of branches.
But Makgato allegedly also disclosed publicly who she supported to be chairman of the province.
She allegedly told members at the meeting to support current chairman and premier, Cassel Mathale, and not Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture.
She also allegedly brought non-ANC members to the meeting, which irked some members.
When members tried to raise objections Makgato's husband, Richard, allegedly assaulted a member .
Shima Ntobeng, 35, a resident of Sekhokho village, was allegedly punched so hard in the face that he fell down. While he was on the ground the mayor's husband allegedly kicked him in the face.
Then some ANC members allegedly assaulted him for having attacked their friend.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Ntobeng said he could not understand what provoked the assault because his attacker was not even a member of the branch.
"I was only reminding the mayor about principles of the organisation when her husband attacked me," Ntobeng said.
He said it worried him that the assault took place in the presence of the mayor, but that she did not call her husband to order.
"I do not know where we are going with the kind of leadership displayed by the mayor. She must just go," Ntobeng said.
Approached for comment yesterday, the mayor denied that her husband had assaulted anyone - or that he had been assaulted at the meeting.
"My husband was not assaulted. All I can say is that the people who are saying this are doing it to discredit me," Makgato said.
Makgato's husband was not available when Sowetan telephoned him on his cellphone.
Botlokwa police spokesman Sergeant Thilivhali Mavhungu confirmed to Sowetan that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been opened and that an arrest was imminent.
Mayor's husband 'beat ANC member'
THE husband of a Limpopo mayor has allegedly assaulted an ANC member who disagreed with his wife at a branch meeting.
The incident happened at a branch meeting at Botlokwa on Saturday when the Mabjaneng branch of ward 8 in the Molemole municipality was meeting to finalise its nominations ahead of the ANC provincial elective conference, scheduled for December 17 to 20.
Mayor Paulina Makgato had gone to the meeting as a party deployee, but had allegedly insisted on running the programme.
According to ANC policy the branch chairman and not deployees chairs meetings of branches.
But Makgato allegedly also disclosed publicly who she supported to be chairman of the province.
She allegedly told members at the meeting to support current chairman and premier, Cassel Mathale, and not Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture.
She also allegedly brought non-ANC members to the meeting, which irked some members.
When members tried to raise objections Makgato's husband, Richard, allegedly assaulted a member .
Shima Ntobeng, 35, a resident of Sekhokho village, was allegedly punched so hard in the face that he fell down. While he was on the ground the mayor's husband allegedly kicked him in the face.
Then some ANC members allegedly assaulted him for having attacked their friend.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Ntobeng said he could not understand what provoked the assault because his attacker was not even a member of the branch.
"I was only reminding the mayor about principles of the organisation when her husband attacked me," Ntobeng said.
He said it worried him that the assault took place in the presence of the mayor, but that she did not call her husband to order.
"I do not know where we are going with the kind of leadership displayed by the mayor. She must just go," Ntobeng said.
Approached for comment yesterday, the mayor denied that her husband had assaulted anyone - or that he had been assaulted at the meeting.
"My husband was not assaulted. All I can say is that the people who are saying this are doing it to discredit me," Makgato said.
Makgato's husband was not available when Sowetan telephoned him on his cellphone.
Botlokwa police spokesman Sergeant Thilivhali Mavhungu confirmed to Sowetan that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been opened and that an arrest was imminent.
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