The killing of municipal councillors and officials is on the increase in South Africa. It represents a direct attack on our hard-won democracy, says Bheke Stofile, the president of the South African Local Government Association.
Escalating legal bills are becoming a headache for a struggling Eastern Cape municipality. The cash-strapped Amathole district municipality has already paid more than R25m since 2018 to just two legal firms which represented it in various legal challenges. While the municipality continues to pay millions of rand “to assist” its ousted municipal manager, Thandekile Mnyimba, in his court bid to reclaim his job, confidential documents seen by the Dispatch reveal that it is also paying the l.
The cash-strapped Amathole district municipality is spending R298,000 a month on a bulletproof BMW X5 and VIP protectors for chief whip Nanziwe Rulashe, as her total security bill soars to nearly R2m. Ratepayers will fork out R180,000 for the vehicle and R118,000 a month for four bodyguards, who will be available 24 hours a day at her home and the ADM offices.
Amathole district municipality chief whip Nanziwe Rulashe has lambasted a senior municipal official she accused of blocking security arrangements for her trip to Gauteng this week. Rulashe was placed under protection after a video clip of her being dragged from her office went viral and her home was sprayed with bullets early in 2022.
Police are investigating a complaint of intimidation against a woman believed to be ANC provincial heavyweight Nanziwe Rulashe after threats were allegedly made during a heated exchange with another woman over an apparent love triangle. Rulashe was served with an interim protection order, seen by the Dispatch, by the sheriff of the East London magistrate’s court.