This weekend ANC heavyweights visit Richmond to win support in the coming council by-elections. Wonder Hlongwa reports
P0LICE and army forces will be on guard in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal, this weekend when the African National Congress launches its campaign for local council by-elections. The elections should have been held in May, but were postponed because of intimidation.
The ANC’s rally at the Ndaleni Stadium on Sunday morning will be a trial of strength against local warlord Sifiso Nkabinde, who was sacked as a member of the local council in April after allegations that he spied for the security police. He still regards the small town as his stronghold.
Nine ANC local councillors resigned in solidarity with Nkabinde. But two did not quit – and one of them, Rodney van der Byl (54), was shot dead outside his home in May. Nkabinde’s allies jeered President Nelson Mandela during Van der Byl’s funeral last month.
Mayor Andrew Ragavaloo, who also remained in office, is under 24-hour police guard. Recently police caught a man with a cocked firearm near his house.
The man, Phillip Ngcamu (21), has been charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm. He appeared in court this week and was given bail of R2 000. At the time of going to press he had not paid the bail.
Earlier this week the police also found two men in possession of four illegal firearms: William Dlamini (23) and Sithembiso Mbhele (25) were caught with two R-5 rifles, one G-3 and one R-4 rifle. The two are in police custody. However, the police commissioner in Richmond, Ronnie Maganlal, said it was not known if the guns are linked to violence in the area, but are undergoing ballistic testing.
The ANC will send a 20-man delegation to the rally, led by MEC for Health and provincial treasurer Zweli Mkhize.
The elections were not only delayed owing to intimidation, but also because of allegations of partiality on the side of the returning officer, Mahon Sedhary. He was ousted by MEC for Local Government and Housing Peter Miller at Ragavaloo’s request.
“Although intimidation is still rife in this area, we are determined to have these elections,” Ragavaloo said. “Candidates who have been scared to submit their names because of fear have come forward. Ballot papers have been printed. Returning officers are being trained, we are looking forward to the day.”
Nkabinde remains defiant towards the ANC – and also complains about intimidation like everyone else in Richmond.
He blames the ANC as much as the ANC blames him. “The ANC is bringing back all the criminals who left the area because of violence,” he said. “Those criminals are intimidating people. But I’ve told my people that they must not pay attention to this as it’s a strategy to delay these by- elections.”
He refused to name the people whom he said had returned to the town, but added that last Saturday he received a death threat for allegedly destabilising the ANC.
Nkabinde has started his campaign for the elections. He is a candidate and has four others standing as independents. He said he was confident of winning against the ANC and “will eat them for breakfast”.