ANC, IFP in court over assault

Independent Newspapers

Durban - While Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa is locked in a meeting with representatives of political parties to tackle the increase of political violence in the province, a Durban ANC man accused of assaulting his IFP neighbour will be appearing in court on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old suspect, from Reservoir Hills, was arrested last weekend after he allegedly assaulted his neighbour, IFP branch chairman Mphikelwa Shezi, with an iron pipe and threatened to shoot him.

Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed the incident, saying the suspect was expected to appear in court this week. Recalling events that led to the brawl, Shezi – a former ANC member – said the spear-wielding suspect had gone to his house and told his young children that he was going to kill their father.

After hearing what had happened from his children, Shezi went to the suspect’s house.

“He was not there, but I asked his brother why he [the suspect] was harassing my family,” said Shezi.

The suspect had than arrived carrying a firearm.

“He was calling me by derogatory names and said he was going to kill me once and for all,” recalled Shezi, who was able to flee after the man’s brother took away his firearm.

However, the suspect, who was allegedly carrying an iron pipe, had followed Shezi to his house where he attacked him in front of his family, including his children.

Shezi sustained injuries on his arm and legs. “I was finally able to run away and lock myself in my house,” he said.

Condemning the incident, IFP spokesman Joshua Mazibuko called on the ANC leadership to intervene and ensure political sanity prevailed.

“We are disturbed that at this age, there is still political intolerance in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.

However, ANC spokesman Senzo Mkhize dismissed allegations that the incident was politically motivated.

“At the moment, it would be pre-emptive of the IFP to say that the incident was an act of political intolerance,” he said.

Mthethwa convened today’s meeting after Safety MEC Willies Mchunu asked him to establish a national task team to probe political killings.

Briefing members of the legislature two weeks ago, Mchunu said 32 politically motivated killings had been recorded in KZN over the past four years and warned that the province could once again become the “killing fields” – a notorious reputation it earned in the 1980s and the early 1990s – if the recent spate of political killings continued. - Daily News

nondumiso.mbuyazi@inl.co.za