Celani Sikhakhane
Earlier this month, police had to break a wall to gain entry to the house of Vincent Madlala, the embattled mayor of Alfred Duma Municipality in Ladysmith.
After cops found illegal firearms in the house, Madlala and his daughter were both charged with possession of illegal firearms. The mayor also faces an additional charge of obstructing justice.
Now knives are out for Madlala as opposition parties have filed a motion of no confidence against the mayor.
Opposition parties want Madlala to step aside as the mayor, so he can attend to his criminal case.
The vote of no confidence was filed by the DA, IFP and the National People’s Ambassadors (NPA) last Thursday.
Nathi Mthethwa of the National People’s Ambassadors (NPA) said they want Madlala to face his cases without interfering with duties.
“We need a mayor who is able to work for our people without any distractions,” said Mthethwa.
Madlala allegedly fought with members of the national task team who were trying to enter his home in eZakheni to search for illegal firearms.
They had to destroy a wall in order to gain access to the home, after he tried to block them and locked the gate.
The National Freedom Party has warned the ANC that if it fails to release Madlala from his duties, the people will revolt against them.
ANC spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela said they can’t force Madlala to step aside because his case had nothing to do with his work.
DA councillor Khulekani Msibi said the vote of no confidence will take place on Thursday this week.
“He has been arrested several times and this time we want him to step aside. We can’t be led by someone who has been facing criminal charges like him,” said Msibi.
“The worst part is that he was found with illegal weapons.”
Msibi didn’t disclose what cases that Madlala had faced before.
The DA believes that this time the law will take its course since the bail seems to be huge, he added.
Madlala has been a mayor of Alfred Duma Municipality since 2011.
Tweet: After refusing entry to the police and locking his gates, the wall to his yard had to be destroyed to gain entry.
Image source: East Coast Radio
