Following of the arrest of Umsinga Mayor Mletheni Ndlovu on Saturday, the Inkatha Freedom Party has suspended him, alongside two councillors. Ndlovu was arrested over the weekend along with his two bodyguards Mswawenkosi Male and Mvikelo Mzolo for carrying guns that belong to Ndlovu's company. The mayor is facing charges of giving the guns to the bodyguards while there is a security cluster. Councillors Thokozani Sokhela and Mhlawukeleni Sokhela were arrested in a separate incident for possession of a stolen car and plenty of bullets and the possession of a bullet proof, bullets and his gun was not in a safe respectively. It is still unclear whether Thokozani and Mhawukeleni are related as they are both members of the IFP. "The IFP NEC, at its ordinary weekly meeting yesterday, on Monday, mayor Ndlovu, councillors Thokozani and Mhawukeleni are directed to take a leave of absence from all municipal activities and responsibilities with immediate effect, and are hereby placed on suspension from all party activities.The Deputy Mayor of Msinga Thenjiwe Busisiwe Mbatha, will act as mayor," the statement reads.
SERVICES TO CONTINUE AS NORMAL
The statement further reads that the Speaker of Council is to ensure that affected wards, namely wards 4 and 14, continue to receive services and access to councillors during the period of the leave of absence of the affected councillors."The Political Oversight Committee (POC) is to communicate these decisions and brief the NEC on the material circumstances of these arrests, noting that at this point they have not been linked to the tragic assassination of Siyanda Magubane," the statement reads.
RELYING ON COPS TO LEAD INVESTIGATION
Magubane was gunned down last month in Umsinga while he was travelling with another IFP councillor Lungisani Ntuli. "The POC will report back to the NEC at its next meeting. As previously indicated, the IFP relies on the SAPS-led investigation on this matter. The IFP will accordingly take decisions on the basis of the due processes of the investigation, as per the recommendations of the National Council Task Team that was dispatched to investigate this matter," concludes the statement.Ntuli surprised mourners when he told them that mayor Ndlovu was behind the murder of Magubane and that he saw him carrying a firearm shortly the assassination of his fellow comrade. Ndlovu was granted the bail of R10 000 while Mhawukeleni and Thokozani were given the bail of R1000 each on yesterday
