Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Athol Trollip, has revealed that hitmen have been sent to execute two of his mayoral committee members.
Trollip addressed a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon where he said that "verified death threats" have been made against Council Chief Whip, Werner Senekal and Mayoral Committee member for Roads and Transport, Rano Kayser.
"The South African Police Service believe that this may be linked to the two Metro Councillors facing charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, whose, next court appearance is on 31 July, 2017," Trollip said.
He said these charges arose from criminal case opened by both Councillors Senekal and Kayser after the infamous council meeting on 27 October, 2016, where both Councillors were assaulted with dangerous objects.
Senekal and Kayser had laid charges against ANC councillors, Andile Lungisa and Gamilihleli Maqula.
Responding to a question from the media about the source of the threats, Trollip said they were certainly not pointing fingers at the two ANC Councillors.
"We certainly not saying that the threats came from the Councillors, we're certainly not. But, what we are saying is that there is information that suggests that the threats might be linked to the fact that this case is coming before the courts on Monday, 31 July."
Trollip also referenced last week's assassination of the Speaker of the Raymond Mhlaba Local Council, ANC councillor, Thozama Njobe.
Although the motive for her murder has not yet been confirmed, Trollip said that in her case the consequences of intervention by the Speaker or doing something that other people did not want done, was death.
"So, what we are saying is that we are going ahead in pressing very serious charges against people who assaulted other Councillors in the Council Chamber and we are not going to be intimidated to withdraw those cases or anything to that effect. All we are saying is that there are allegations that these threats might linked to the fact that there's this case coming up," he said.
In reply to another question Trollip said while he could not divulge too much while the police investigation was continuing, he said that "the information is that there are that people have been sent to carry out the execution of these two Councillors. That would mean that there is a hitman or hit-team that have been contracted to do the work," he said.
Trollip also confirmed that security had been tightened around the two Councillors.
The Executive Mayor said he had written to Eastern Cape Premier, Phumulo Masualle, to inform him about the situation. Reading from the letter Trollip also referenced the murder of Njobe and the recent threats made against the two Nelson Mandela Bay Councillors.
"It is simply untenable that in a Constitutional democracy that we can be intimidated and threatened with our lives and public representative because some people have no respect for others or the rule of law and order. I wish therefore, not only to put this matter on the record for you and your MEC for Safety and Security, but also to insist that you ensure that every effort is being made to bring the alleged conspirators in this regard to book as soon as possible and that every effort is made to prevent any further political assassinations in this Province," wrote Trollip.
SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, said that police "have opened an inquiry and the matter is being investigated."
The ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay region said that it condemns the "alleged death threats" against the two Councillors.
"To us as the ANC violent conduct or death threats of this kind can never have a place in our democracy," said ANC regional spokesperson, Gift Nqondi.
He also said that reject what he said were hollow allegations by "public sympathy-seeking" members of the DA coalition.
"The ANC condemns this abuse of media houses and the public with the hope of confrontation and headlines because we've got confidence that SAPS will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators before the courts. But, what we are against are these reckless statements of insinuating that our Councillors are involved in so-called death threats without any tangible evidence," said Nqondi.
