Municipal manager assaulted

A group of about 20 people in Kuruman allegedly assaulted the area's municipal manager and damaged his office during an altercation, police have said.

A group of about 20 people in Kuruman allegedly assaulted the area's municipal manager and damaged his office during an altercation, police have said.

Published Oct 22, 2010

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By Andre Grobler

A group of about 20 people in Kuruman allegedly assaulted the area's municipal manager and damaged his office during an altercation, police said on Friday.

Charges of assault and malicious damage to property were being investigated after the group stormed into the office of the Ga-Segonyane municipal manager Atlholang Eric Gaborone, Captain Tony Modise said.

“Gaborone, 42, was allegedly assaulted in his office which was damaged by a group of between 15 to 20 people.”

Modise said the group indicated they represented people with small, medium and micro enterprises in the town. The attack happened shortly before 11am on Wednesday. The group was reportedly unhappy with certain tender processes at the municipality.

Municipal spokesman Martin Tsatsimpe said Gaborone sustained injuries during the incident, which took place in front of other managers.

“The staff was severely traumatised by the incident, which led to the offices being closed for the day.”

Business had returned to normal by Thursday. The municipality had not received any formal correspondence on the group's problem. Tsatsimpe said all they knew was media speculation about unhappiness over tenders.

The group entered the municipal building loudly protesting and allegedly barged into Gaborone's office while he was meeting with other employees.

Modise said two people from the group confronted Gaborone, allegedly assaulted and “mistreated” him before overturning his desk, damaging it in the process.

Police said an additional case of intimidation was opened after one of the group allegedly threatened the municipality's technical manager.

According to Modise, when police arrived at the scene the situation had been defused.

Police had opened case dockets, but no arrests had been made. The senior prosecutor in the region would decide whether to go ahead with the case or not.

Tsatsimpe said it was possible there would be talks with the group about their complaints soon. - Sapa

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