Joburg to lay charges against ANC councillors
Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba said the city will be laying criminal charges against ANC councillors following violence at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) summit in Midrand on Tuesday evening.
Mashaba said the attack on several individuals was led by ANC councillors in the City of Joburg.
"A number of individuals were injured following the violence, including and EFF member who had a gash to his head, as well as the chairperson of Ward 112, Andrew Osmond, who was hit with a brick on the back of his head with such force that he was concussed and had to be taken to hospital," said Mashaba.
Mashaba said the city is left with no option but to lay criminal charges against ANC councillors who were leading the assault.
"Charges will include damage to property and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The police will be provided with all relevant footage of the attack and we will ensure that those involved face criminal prosecution," said Mashaba.
Mashaba said he is again calling on ANC provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile to take urgent disciplinary action against the individuals.
"In our constitutional democracy, we can never tolerate councillors conducting themselves in a manner that places the lives of innocent residents at risk," said Mashaba.
Meanwhile, the ANC Youth League in the Johannesburg region has hit out at the DA-run metro.
"We as ANCYL strongly condemn the spilling of blood that took place at an IDP meeting at Midrand primary school where the DA led municipality, with the help of the EFF and Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) beat up the community of Region A," said the league's Stalin Khonza.
Khonza said Mashaba was in attendance and idly stood by while "his goons viciously carried out an attack on our people.
"Chairs and bottled water where thrown on members of the community as they sought accountability from the city's leadership," said Khonza.
Khonza said the JMPD will be taken to task for their role in taking sides and not protecting the citizens of the city.
"We want to make it clear to the DA and their EFF goons that you can never rule by the back door and limit people their power in a democracy won by blood and tears."