The outcome of the ANCs long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
PORT ELIZABETH, May 30 (ANA) – The ANC in the Amathole District in the Eastern Cape says the pending arrest of its regional secretary and others was an attempt to disrupt the upcoming local government elections.
In a statement issued by ANC Amathole regional secretary Teris Ntutu, he indicated he had heard of his imminent arrest and that of several other officials.
“At the height of the election season, and in the wake of several very public arrests in the Amathole District, and amidst unfortunate political infighting among inflated egos driving self-serving agendas, information has reached me about my own imminent arrest, and the arrest of Comrade Khanyile Maneli, candidate for election as the Amathole ANC regional chairperson, on Monday, May 30, on baseless charges,” said Ntutu.
Ntutu was expected to lead a group of protestors to the office of the Hawks in East London on Monday to hand over a petition.
His comments follow last week’s arrest of Amathole District Municipality mayor, Nomasikizi Khonza, and several others on charges of fraud involving a reported R6 million.
“Be the information accurate or not, the very suggestion of such repeated outrageous interventions speaks to grim political expediency, and reckless and malicious intent to cause maximum disruption in the execution of critical leadership in the final run-up to the local government elections,” Ntutu said.
“I am a servant of the people of the Amathole District and I am committed to promote, and have every confidence in, the democracy upheld by the Constitution born of the blood of South African heroes. Therefore I have nothing to fear,” he said.
He added that the ANC knew of plans to “harass Amathole leaders by Hawks intervention”.
“Such capture of the machinery of state can under no circumstances be allowed or be tolerated,” he added.
HAWKS national spokesman, Brigadier Hlaudi Mulaudzi, said the demonstration on Monday was illegal and the unit would not receive any petition from an illegal gathering.
Mulaudzi stressed that it was the DPCI’s (Directorate for Priority Crime Intervention) mandate to deal with serious crimes.
– African News Agency (ANA)
Disclaimer: This story is pulled directly from the African News Agency wire, and has not been edited by Mail & Guardian staff. The M&G does not accept responsibility for errors in any statement, quote or extract that may be contained therein.