The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) mayor of Inkosi John Langalibalele Local Municipality, Mduduzi “Sobholenyoni” Myeza, who allegedly assaulted a woman living with a disability at the party’s offices, has been charged with one count of assault.

Zandile Radebe, 40, an administration clerk at the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) office in Estcourt, Midlands, accused Myeza of slapping her several times in front of colleagues and the deputy mayor during a confrontation at the party’s office.

The incident occurred on January 16, when Myeza reportedly arrived at the office to collect the party’s voters’ roll during local branch elections.

Radebe alleged that the mayor’s slaps were so forceful she fell from the chair she was sitting on.

She claimed Myeza accused her of failing to perform her duties. 

When she questioned which duties he was referring to, she alleged that he accused her of putting words in his mouth before beginning to assault her.

Radebe, who was employed at the office before Myeza’s election as mayor, said he had always been antagonistic towards her.

“He’d always be abusive towards me when he was at the office. He’d sometimes swear at me. Swearing at me had become regular,” Radebe previously told IOL News.

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the case, State versus Mduduzi Myeza, was finalised on Friday in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court.

NPA regional spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal division, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said Myeza had been charged with one count of assault relating to the incident.

“It was alleged that he assaulted the complainant during a work-related incident,” she said.

Ramkisson-Kara confirmed that the matter was finalised using an Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism (ADRM), a part of the Restorative Justice process.

“An ADR takes place when an accused and a complainant decide to finalise a matter outside of the formal court process,” she said.

In this case, the accused and the complainant voluntarily entered an informal mediation agreement. 

The process was monitored by a senior public prosecutor from outside the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court and the acting chief public prosecutor.

Ramkisson-Kara said Myeza apologised to Radebe, and she accepted the apology, thereby concluding the matter.

KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda previously confirmed that Estcourt police had been investigating a case of crimen injuria and assault after the woman reported the incident.

Two weeks ago, the IFP previously said it will not fire Myeza, from his position after he assaulted a female staff member, who is also a party member.

The party’s National spokesperson Mkhulekwa Hlengwa said that the party can’t fire Myeza based on allegations.

Hlengwa said although the matter was still in a court of law, it didn’t mean that the mayor was guilty.

“We must follow the rule of natural justice. We can’t take any decision before the process in court is concluded.

“The claims remain allegations (at this stage) and those allegations must be tested in a court of law, so what action would you want us to take?”, asked the IFP spokesperson.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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