The political battles are said to be a result of the divisions created when DD Mabuza left to occupy national office – and where his previous allies began turning on each other.
JS Moroka mayor Thulare Madileng has dismissed reports he fired shots at anyone but was concerned with those who have been preventing him from doing his job.
He said a company called G85 Govics was illegally appointed by his rival municipal manager Thami Kubheka and was now being used as his “secret service” – with its guards blocking him from entering municipal offices in Siyabuswa.
Madileng said his life is being threatened everyday and the political tensions have boiled over to the point that the municipality has been “put in a state of paralysis” by Kubheka, who he says he fired for not implementing council resolutions.
Kubheka is said to enjoy the support of DA councillors and as well a section of ANC councillors in the municipality.
He is aligned with Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane and Madileng with acting ANC chairman Mandla Ndlovu and Nkangala leader Speedy Mashilo.
ALSO RELATED: Kubheka and Madileng fight over soul of JS Moroka
Supporters of Kubheka say Madileng is removing Kubheka from his position by force but Madileng says he simply fired Kubheka for not implementing council resolutions.
Two people, including Madileng’s bodyguard, were injured during a violent clash outside the JS Moroka municipal offices this week Monday morning 13 January 2020, where a group of protesting community members had gathered at the entrance.
Sowetan reports that the gunshots were fired when Madileng was being prevented from entering the municipal building by the group.
Supporters of Kubheka said Madileng had been at the municipality to stop job interviews from taking place and they had to stop him from entering his own office.
One of the injured alleged he saw Madileng carrying a firearm during the clash outside the gates but Madileng says as a mayor he does not carry a firearm and reports that he fired shots at people are all untrue and “inhumane”.
“I never fired shots at anyone but have indeed fired Mr Thami Kubheka as a municipal manager for failing to implement council resolutions that are intended to provide our people with decent services,” he said.
He said Kubheka has put the municipality “in a state of paralysis”.
Turning to the DA that earlier condemned his involvement in various classes, Madileng said the DA is so “heartless”.
“That is why they care less about the safety and life of the mayor. Not a single line of sympathising with the ambushed mayor [in their pressure statement] and the security personnel that saved my life and who subsequently got injured. They don’t care”.
He also said he doesn’t need special permission to enter the premises of the municipality and access his office.
“The illegally appointed security company called G85 Govics by the former municipal manager Thami Kubheka is now his secret service,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police in Siyabuswa are investigating a case of attempted murder after one of the community members, Mduduzi Mthombeni, was shot in the hand and Madileng’s bodyguard injured.
(edited by MLM)
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