He is up for possession of illegal firearm after society accused him of hiring heartless murderers to hunt down and kill his opponents in politics.
Mkhondo strongman Vusi ‘Sgemegeme’ Motha was found with multiple guns, including a 9mm pistol, a DM4 assault rifle as well as 308 hunting rifle, when a high-powered police team pounced on him in the wee hours of Monday morning.
The guns in total were 23 and were found by cops to be owned by a security company linked to Sgemegeme.
“He could not produce licenses for the firearms and that’s what he was arrested for following a thorough investigation into allegations of his involvement in the assassination of his own comrades who are no longer with him,” a highly-placed police told 013NEWS Tuesday night 17 January 2022.
ALSO SEE: Sgemegeme aware of rumour doing the rounds claiming he wants to murder Muzi Chirwa
He was arrested at his house at around 3am early Monday morning 16 January 2023…
Also Willington Sangweni, the 52-year-old owner of the security company was arrested alongside him Sgemegeme for the murder of councillor Smiley Mthembu.
Sgemegeme is currently charged with possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
They will return to court for formal bail application on 24 January 2023.
The ANC in Mkhondo is planning to remove Mthokozisi Simelane – an independent councillor put in power by Sgemegeme and his allies – after the ANC won all the wards during late last year’s by-elections. The scores of by-elections were caused by their expulsion from the ANC.
ALSO SEE: Late ‘Smile’ Mthembu apologises to Vusi Motha for saying he killed Muzi Manyathi
After the ANC won all by-elections in the area, they were now planning to use their majority to remove mayor Mthokozisi Simelane, the speaker, ATM councillor Mduduzi Dlamini, as well as EFF councillor Siphesihle Mkhwanazi, who is the chief whip.
The ANC got 54% of the total votes at the November 2021 local government elections.
After winning the all the by-elections – following the expulsion of 6 councillors – the ANC was now planning to use its light majority to remove Mthokozisi Simelane, an ally of Sgemegeme.
Sources claim the Sgemegeme camp wanted to assassinate 4 councillors so that the ANC don’t use its majority to elect an ANC mayor.
013NEWS – Dozens of guns were seized during the arrest of ex-Mkhondo mayor Vusi #Sgemegeme Mothaafter the brutal gunning down of an ANC councillor and another party member at the weekend. The slain councillor had in Nov made a live video fingering Sgemegeme in political killings pic.twitter.com/MIEBPaYocZ
— 013NEWS (@my013News) January 18, 2023
“It’s too much money that they are making through Mthokozisi Simelane. These guys are rich and prepared to do anything to mantain the status quo,” an ANC members who fears for his life told the 013NEWS reporter over the phone.
“I think all councillors in Mkhondo have vacated the area, everyone is living in fear. Nobody knows who is next. Anybody could be next,” the source said.
(edited by MLM)
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