Capt. Tintswalo Sibeko, spokesperson for the Johannesburg police, confirmed the original complaint to Maroela Media on Wednesday. (Photo: Megan Swart/Maroela Media)
Dada Morero, mayor of Johannesburg, is requested to take disciplinary action against one of his mayoral committee members after he and a bodyguard were arrested on charges of kidnapping, assault and pointing a firearm.
A 16-year-old filed the charges over the weekend, but has since withdrawn.
Capt. Tintswalo Sibeko, spokesperson for the Johannesburg police, confirmed the original complaint to Maroela Media on Wednesday. However, Sibeko did not identify the accused in the case.
“ActionSA has it on good authority that the accused is Nomoya Mnisi, mayoral committee member for economic development,” says Herman Mashaba, ActionSA’s mayoral candidate in Johannesburg.
ActionSA demands that Morero take disciplinary action against Mnisi to remove her from the metro council’s executive committee.
“There is no doubt that this criminal behavior has cast the city in a negative light. Such behavior is far below the standards set for someone bearing the responsibility of public office.”
According to Sibeko, a case of assault, kidnapping and pointing a firearm was filed at the Doornkop police station in Roodepoort on Saturday.
“Two suspects, aged 36 and 43, were arrested and appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on 18 May (Monday).
“The complainant has indicated that he intends to withdraw the case; however, the case has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision.”
Mashaba believes the complaint was most likely withdrawn under duress.
He also says the initial charges raise serious questions about the breakdown of the rule of law, “where politically connected individuals abuse their power to undermine the rights and dignity of ordinary South Africans”.
Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA caucus leader in Johannesburg, says there is clearly a “growing culture of lawlessness” in Morero’s executive authority.
Kayser-Echeozonjoku says the DA wrote to Morero just last week and asked that Thapelo Amad, mayoral committee member for community development, be removed from the executive authority after criminal charges were also filed against him.
“To date, the mayor has not taken any concrete steps.
“And now media reports have come to light claiming that a completely different mayoral committee member has been arrested in connection with a kidnapping case.”
Kayser-Echeozonjoku says whistleblowers have also approached the DA and claim that victims who were assaulted by another mayoral committee member were prevented from opening a case at the Lenasia South police station.
“One of the complainants is still waiting days later for a case number in this regard.”
Kayser-Echeozonjoku says Morero’s continued silence and failure to act creates the impression that his mayoral committee members are above the law and are politically protected.