Former MEC arrested over 'theft'

FORMER Mpumalanga MEC for agriculture Mishack Malinga was arrested for allegedly stealing ANC documents in Middelburg last night.

Malinga was MEC for agriculture in 2010. He is currently a Member of the Provincial Legislature.

According to ANC insiders, Malinga's arrest was as a result of him trying to intervene in a power struggle between factions within the ANC who are trying to gain control of the party's Steve Tshwete sub-region in the area.

Malinga was apparently deployed in the area to oversee the launching of new ANC branches. Last night he got involved in a situation where he had to confiscate party documents that had illegally landed in the hands of some party members.

Insiders claim there was physical resistance to Malinga's intervention, leading to the cops being called. Malinga was then accused by members of the group from whom he had confiscated the documents of having stolen them.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Lieutenant- Colonel Leonard Hlathi confirmed Malinga's arrest last night but claimed not to have details of the case.

"I can confirm the arrest and the fact that he was released on warning," Hlathi said.

Malinga is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

The ANC was not available for comment at the time of going to press.