The executive mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mondli Gungubele, has called on the police to work around the clock to nab the people behind the torching of a councillor\u2019s house in Zonkizizwe, on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The house of ANC Ward 61 councillor Clr Teboho Letsoha was gutted by angry residents.<\/p>
Although the situation has calmed down today, it remains quite tense, with a heavy police presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the information with regard to what happened is still trickling in, at the forefront I wish to make it clear that no amount of excuses can justify the crime committed against the councillor,\u201d Gungubele said.<\/p>
\u201cI am told that this incident had something to do with a power outage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe unfortunate part is that the councillor became the victim of an attack, when he was also affected by the outage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe time has come for our people to understand the role of the councillors, who are servants of the people and are there to bring communities closer to government.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the very same community voted the councillor into office and if they now have a problem with him, they must engage proper processes as stipulated by the IEC instead of threatening his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes this incident even more unfortunate is the fact that it happened on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter,” Gungubele added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is certainly not the freedom our forefathers paid the ultimate price for.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must do better as a country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The councillor\u2019s house is the second to be set alight in two months.<\/p>\n
The other house was set alight in Etwatwa, in a move that prompted concerned residents, led by the churches, to take to the streets to call for a stop to vandalism of private and public property during service delivery protests.<\/p>\n
Gungubele said it was now the duty of the community to work closely with the police to bring the perpetrators to book.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an act of crime and someone must pay for this,” he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is above the law in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n
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