Two people have been charged for the assault of Cape Town mayor Helen Zille at a meeting in Crossroads in April and more arrests may follow, the Cape Times reported on Tuesday.
Its website said this was according to Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, who was replying in writing to a parliamentary question from Democratic Alliance MP Denise Robinson.
Zille said on Monday: ”I did not know that anyone had been charged, but I am pleased that there has been progress [by the police]. I am also pleased to hear that this [came out] in a reply in Parliament.”
Nqakula said the investigation was being handled by a policeman with 19 years’ service, whose case load included 187 other dockets. The officer had obtained five statements from witnesses on the day of the alleged assault.
Nqakula said video footage had also been obtained, but it was not clear enough to positively identify who had been responsible the incident.
Investigations were continuing and more arrests might follow, he said.
Police were not able to provide further details on Monday night, including whether the suspects were in custody or how the footage was obtained.
Shortly after the incident on April 22, Zille said she would be seeking police protection before going into townships again.
”In the past, I got into my car and drove to the townships,” Zille said.
”In future, I won’t do that without police protection.”
She said as Charles Khanku, local chairperson of the South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco) moved to open the meeting, a man stood up from among the ANC supporters and approached the stage with a chair in his hands.
”The man said he was one of the striking security guards and that I was doing nothing to help them. He hurled his chair at the people on stage,” the mayor said.
”The other ANC supporters also stood up threateningly and toyi-toyied towards the stage with raised chairs. They hurled the chairs at us.”
Security guards indicated that Zille should leave the hall, and as she was doing so, a chair hit her on the head. – Sapa