Chief whip lays charges over ‘threats’

INLSA

File photo: The DAs chief whip Dean Macpherson (pictured) has laid intimidation charges against an ANC councillor for allegedly threatening him.

Durban - The DA’s chief whip, Councillor Dean Macpherson, has laid intimidation charges against ANC Councillor Colin Gaillard for threats allegedly made to him during a council meeting on Wednesday.

Macpherson said Gaillard threatened him with physical violence and made the gesture of a gun and pointed it to his head after the ANC councillor was unhappy about the eThekwini Council Speaker Logie Naidoo, allowing the DA councillor to rise on a point of order during a speech.

Gaillard had allegedly vowed to sort out Macpherson in the parking lot.

Gaillard refused to comment, and diverted queries to the council Speaker.

“He was making a speech and the argument he was making is that I was trying to disrupt him, but the Speaker allowed me to speak and he then said to me ‘I will take you into the parking lot and sort you out myself’ and made a gun gesture pointing at his head,” said Macpherson on Wednesday night.

Macpherson said Naidoo would not rule Gaillard out of order for his utterances and his gun gesture.

Speaking to the Daily News, Naidoo said he would not interfere as the DA had chosen to open a case.

“A charge has been laid. All that I can do now is allow the law to take its course and not interfere,” he said.

Naidoo said he had constantly reminded all council members to allow others to speak and not interrupt, and that the use of inflammatory language was not necessary.

Macpherson said he would write to Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube and the KZN Premier Zweli Mkhize, laying complaints against both Naidoo and Gaillard.

Macpherson also said he would file for a restraining order against Gaillard at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. - Daily News