Charge at DA candidate’s car with chainsaw

DA mayoral candidate Mergan Chetty

DA mayoral candidate Mergan Chetty

Published Jul 24, 2016

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Sharika Regchand

Pietermaritzburg: A man wielding a chainsaw allegedly charged at a vehicle DA mayoral candidate Mergan Chetty was seated in, which was part of a cavalcade campaigning for the local government elections in Pietermaritzburg.

Chetty said on Sunday that he sliced off the side mirror with the chainsaw.

The incident happened at Ward 15, in Imbali township at about 3.30pm on Saturday.

Chetty said when the 75 car motorcade arrived in the ward, the road was blocked with bricks and stones to prevent them from entering.

Then a mob of about 30 people threw stones, rocks and blocks at the vehicle.

“They said they were from the ANC, that it was an ANC area and they did not want us to enter,” said Chetty.

He believed that members of the ruling party had gotten wind of the DA’s plans and route and allegedly tried to stop them from campaigning.

But ANC regional secretary of the Moses Mabhida area, Mzi Zuma, said he was unaware of the incident.

“We are signatories of the code of conduct and no member of the ANC would do that,” he said.

He said he was not even aware of the DA’s plans that day.

Zuma said the party distanced itself from this kind of behaviour.

If there were charges laid, the allegations would be investigated and if members were found to be guilty, they would be disciplined.

Zuma added that members had been told they could not cause disruptions and pull posters put up by other political parties.

The DA said it had laid charges. Police were still confirming this. – Elections Bureau

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