SEVEN people, including an ANC ward councillor in the Blouberg local municipality, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly holding meetings at venues forbidden by the local chief.
SEVEN people, including an ANC ward councillor in the Blouberg local municipality, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly holding meetings at venues forbidden by the local chief.
One of those arrested is ward 18 councillor David Sematla. Sematla made headlines for all the wrong reasons in Limpopo recently when he and his son David were suspended by the Phistos Mothudibranch of the ANC.
The controversial councillor was later interdicted by the local chief for allegedly inciting residents to dismiss the chief from the village.
As if that was not enough, Sematla was arrested on Sunday with six villagers for defying the court order.
He and those arrested had been interdicted by the Mamadi Royal Family and Council when the Bochum magistrate's court ordered them not to hold meetings at certain venues in the village. They were arrested at 9pm during a secret meeting held at Sematla's house in Taaibosch.
Mamadi Royal Family and Council spokesperson Pheneas Kopa told Sowetan yesterday that those arrested were members of the Taaibosch Development Forum.
They were arrested for defying a court interdict forbidding them to hold meetings at particular venues without the chief's permission.
Kopa said the royal family welcomed the arrests and said it would serve as a deterrent to those who still believe that the chief was irrelevant nowadays.
Kopa said the chief gave the group alternative venues within the royal kraal where they could hold their meetings - but they overlooked the concession and opted for venues they were barred from using.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said the suspects were expected to appear in the Bochum magistrate's court today on charges of illegal gathering and defying a court order.
seven defy chief mamadi
SEVEN people, including an ANC ward councillor in the Blouberg local municipality, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly holding meetings at venues forbidden by the local chief.
SEVEN people, including an ANC ward councillor in the Blouberg local municipality, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly holding meetings at venues forbidden by the local chief.
One of those arrested is ward 18 councillor David Sematla. Sematla made headlines for all the wrong reasons in Limpopo recently when he and his son David were suspended by the Phistos Mothudibranch of the ANC.
The controversial councillor was later interdicted by the local chief for allegedly inciting residents to dismiss the chief from the village.
As if that was not enough, Sematla was arrested on Sunday with six villagers for defying the court order.
He and those arrested had been interdicted by the Mamadi Royal Family and Council when the Bochum magistrate's court ordered them not to hold meetings at certain venues in the village. They were arrested at 9pm during a secret meeting held at Sematla's house in Taaibosch.
Mamadi Royal Family and Council spokesperson Pheneas Kopa told Sowetan yesterday that those arrested were members of the Taaibosch Development Forum.
They were arrested for defying a court interdict forbidding them to hold meetings at particular venues without the chief's permission.
Kopa said the royal family welcomed the arrests and said it would serve as a deterrent to those who still believe that the chief was irrelevant nowadays.
Kopa said the chief gave the group alternative venues within the royal kraal where they could hold their meetings - but they overlooked the concession and opted for venues they were barred from using.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said the suspects were expected to appear in the Bochum magistrate's court today on charges of illegal gathering and defying a court order.