Pretoria -
A Hammanskraal ward councillor is living in fear following death threats, an attack with a spade and being “held hostage” for three hours by protesters at the Temba municipal offices.
Ward 75 councillor Jane Makgatho said she was one of 11 ward councillors who, according to her, were trapped in the Temba council chambers on Tuesday as a mob of about 100 people prevented them from leaving.
But metro police and the SAPS said no hostage drama had been recorded.
According to the police, the councillors decided of their own accord to wait inside the chambers until the crowd had dispersed. They apparently feared being attacked.
The crowd had begun its protests on Monday to express anger about an employment selection process for the Magalies water project. The project is part of the upgrading of the Magalies water treatment plant.
According to Makgatho, the mob was led by people who were feeding lies to the community about the project.
“This whole problem is because some people were selected to undergo training and other tests by the contractor for the project. The people who led this mob lied to them and told them this was the final selection process, which it is not.”
Makgatho said she had appointed a community liaison officer and labour desk officer to select at random 20 unemployed people from each ward in Region 2. This was to bring to 250 people the number of people employed for the project.
A source at the municipal offices said training was to have begun on Monday, but had been disrupted by the mob.
The source said about 200 people stormed over the fence, through the gate and into the building, looking for Makgatho.
Among other things, the mob had vandalised the client service centre and overturned a car in the parking area, the source said.
Makgatho said someone in the mob had then tried to attack her with a spade, but she had escaped with the assistance of police.
“I have no idea what I’m going to do. They threatened my life. They said they are going to burn down my house. I don’t know what to do, I can only hope that the police will protect me and my family.”
On Tuesday, more drama unfolded outside the municipal offices.
According to police spokesman Warrant Officer Llifi Ramatlo, residents had gathered outside the building after a promise that they would be addressed by councillors.
“The councillors instead locked themselves inside the building and didn’t address the crowd. They (residents) waited until late afternoon, but no one came to address them. It was not a hostage situation.”
Tshwane metro spokesman Blessing Manale said the city regretted the unfortunate situation.
“We confirm unassessed damages to the Temba Call Centre and a lock-in which was as a result of a stand-off between the councillors and the representatives of the groups. However, it cannot be classified as a hostage drama, but a grave form of public intimidation and harassment.”
Pretoria News