Political tension caused pandemonium and acrimony in Bushbuckridge

Political tension caused pandemonium and acrimony in Bushbuckridge

   

By BRIAN KAJENGO

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe called on the police to urgently bring to book all suspects to the existence of a vigilante group around Accornhoek in Bushbuckridge following the arrest of fifteen suspects.

Shongwe raise his concerns about the arrested eight of the suspects have already appeared in court. The suspects have been charged with assault and kidnapping. The bail hearing for all suspects will be heard on Monday 14 July 2014.  

The MEC held a meeting with Accornhoek Station management where he was briefed about the existence of a structure that is reportedly abducting crime suspects and subject them to a kangaroo court before they were assaulted them. The group, which reportedly has links with Bushbuckridge Residents Association (BRA) political party, was operating from an unoccupied government building that is situated in the plantations.

The disappointed Shongwe invited Mpumalanga media house to accompany him with his entourage to meet with the victims and to witness the demolition of the so called BRA Headquarters on the bushes of Greenvale.

Shongwe interviewed the victims and told that the leader of BRA Delta Mokoena had kidnapped them and assaulted them.

It alleged that the group was kidnapping people who were suspected to be criminals and brutally beating them up. It has also emerged that people forced to agree that they were involved in criminal activities.

The victims who are now on a Witness Protection Programme, told the MEC and his delegation how they subjected to assault and slavery for days. They have also indicated they would be taken in for days and kept in unknown places where they beaten. It also alleged that some community members were reporting criminal cases at those offices and are no longer reporting at the police station.

Shongwe says anybody linked to vigilantism or any crime must face the full wrath of the law regardless of their social standing or political parties they belong to. He said no person or groupings are allowed to take law into their own hands because the country has a competent criminal justice system.

“We are not a banana republic and anybody who witnesses crime must report to the police and not take law into their own hands. Anybody who resorts to vigilantism should be prepared to face fire,” the MEC said.

He has further called on Bushbuckridge Municipality to deal with all buildings that are dilapidated or remain unoccupied for extended periods of time as some mischievous   people use such buildings to conduct clandestine activities. He said failure by the municipality to deal with such buildings will lead to increased incidences of violent crime in the area. He has called on the municipality and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to consider renting such buildings for either business or residential purposes.

Accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thulani Phahla, MEC Shongwe was shocked to see the condition of the building where these gruesome activities took place and immediately called for the demolition of the building.

BRA spin Doctor Promise Molipa dismissed all the allegations against his part, and accuse ANC for fabricating cases against their party.

“ANC is threatened by the achievement of this small organization within their territory. Everybody knows that our Chairperson Mr. Delta Mokoena arrested and sentenced last year.” Promise Molipa said.

Molipa told Bvunzamutupo News that BRA’s mission is bto promotr culture of consultation with communities in order to achieve mutual responsibility and good governance.  

“BRA has a mission to unite all the people of South Africa, Africans in particular, for the complete liberation of the country, promote services delivery amongst rural people, promote economic development for the benefit of all not connected few, and defend the democratic gains of the people and to advance rural development,”” said Molipa.

Molipa blames Members of the SAPS for raiding BRA offices in Phelindaba and accusing BRA of kidnapping and assaulted them for a period of 6 Months from the office which led to the arrest of some of part members assigned to the office.

“The police have drawn a list with the alleged kidnapped victims and the list contains the names of people to be arrested, office of the Secretary has communicated with the police in effort to afford the members on the list to be processed to allow the matter to be dealt with by the courts as they are the only institution that can deal with this matter in fair manner.” Molipa said.

Molipa told Bvunzamutupo News that Bushbuckridge Residents Association have full confidence in the Justice System of our country as it was proven before that police are being unfortunately used to further political agenda of the ruling party in an effort to destabilize BRA as a political party which is rooted in rural areas of Bushbuckridge and it's gaining strength from all corners of Bushbuckridge.

He said, “The ANC is threaten by our  recent achievements in securing a seat in the Provincial Legislature and our immediate goal to take over the Municipality of Bushbuckridge in the upcoming local government elections therefore they are using state resources to further their selfish interest like the apartheid government did.”

Molipa says The association will remain interact and relevant to the community of Bushbuckridge and Mpumalanga at large no amounts of arrests and threats will destabilize the organization we remain service delivery orientated and we request the police to use the very same energy they have against BRA to fight crime and corruption in our province to ensure a crime and corruption free society.

Caption: MEC Vusi Shongwe ordered the demolitions of the minority Head office

Caption: MEC Vusi Shongwe in the Office of the BRA before demolition

CAption: The victims that couldnt walk but using their bums to walk