Port Elizabeth - The case against two African National Congress (ANC) councillors from Nelson Mandela Bay, who are facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, was postponed in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates' Court on Monday.
The complainants in the case, Chief Whip of Council, Werner Senekal and Mayoral Committee Member for Roads and Transport, Rano Kayser, were also in court flanked by bodyguards and Democratic Alliance (DA) members.
The charges against the councillors relate to a violent brawl which broke out during a council meeting in October last year.
Gamalihleli Maqula, 28, and Andile Lungisa, 39, made brief appearances separately.
The case against them was postponed at their request to August 2.
Maqula and Lungisa are both currently out on bail.
It is alleged that Maqula stabbed Senekal in the back with a sharp object while Lungisa apparently hit Kayser, with a glass jug over his head during a council meeting which turned chaotic.
During court proceedings there was no mention of alleged death threats.
Last week, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality called an urgent media briefing alleging that Senekal and Kayser had received "verified death threats via SMS" which were linked to the ongoing criminal case against Lungisa and Maqula.
Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, said that there was "direct information there is a contract or hit team to do the work" adding that there were continued concerns over the safety of members from his Mayoral Committee team.
Since the alleged death threats came to light both Senekal and Kayser have received beefed up security.
The ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay has condemned the alleged death threats made against Senekal and Kayser but slammed the DA coalition government for insinuating that ANC councillors were involved.