http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/07/23/anc-councillor-faces-disciplinary-hearing
ANC councillor faces disciplinary hearing
Hlengiwe Nhlabathi
AN ANC councillor in KwaZulu-Natal, who pleaded guilty to assaulting a critic, is due to be dragged before the party’s disciplinary hearing for ill-conduct.
Sowetan has learnt that the ANC’s provincial leadership has given the Umlazi branch permission to take disciplinary action against Ward 88 councillor Nomzamo Mkhize.
The ANC’s Umlazi branch executive committee sat yesterday to clear the party’s name against a rising perception that it had become a party that “undermined and frustrated” residents.
A source said there had been many complaints against Mkhize.
The final straw was the assault on Thabile Ngcobo, who was walking from a community meeting last Monday after residents had reiterated their call that Mkhize be removed for service delivery related failures.
Mkhize had initially denied any involvement in the assault, claiming she was being wrongly accused.
According to Ngcobo, Mkhize accosted her and questioned her about her attending the “stupid” meeting before she was slapped and kicked and had her T-shirt torn with a knife.
A criminal case of assault was opened and Mkhize was arrested the following day. But the matter was settled out of court.
In a meeting mediated by a social worker, Mkhize promised to pay R1500 within seven days as compensation for her wrongdoing.
Umlazi’s ANC branch secretary Sakhile Ngcobo would not to comment on the disciplinary proceedings, but said Mkhize’s assault on Ngcobo had “embarrassed” the party.
The ANC has been attempting to mend rifts between between Mkhize and Zakheleni residents.
A meeting held recently with lobby group Abahlali BaseMjondolo was derailed when Mkhize walked out, with Abahlali claiming that they had felt undermined by the party’s members.
Ngcobo said the party had managed to secure the presence of the eThekwini municipality chairman of the human settlements committee, Nigel Gumede, for a meeting to be held today.