Koukamma municipal speaker Dudley Maasdorp is facing calls for disciplinary action after shocking videos emerged of him allegedly brandishing a firearm, hurling insults at residents and threatening to kill them during a chaotic street scuffle in Joubertina.
Eastern Cape co-operative governance MEC Zolile Williams condemned Maasdorp’s alleged conduct as unacceptable and unlawful and urged the municipality to take disciplinary action.
Police confirmed that two cases — one of assault and malicious damage to property opened by Maasdorp, and another of pointing a firearm laid against him — were with the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision.
The alleged incident happened on Sunday, causing outrage among residents in the Sarah Baartman district municipality.
When contacted via WhatsApp about the videos where he is heard exchanging expletives, Maasdorp refused to answer questions.
“Are you threatening me?” he asked.
Maasdorp, who is also the Ward 3 councillor, then provided a case number.
“That case will be the answer to both you and Cogta,” he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said the alleged incident on September 7 happened outside a residence in Joubertina.
“A 58-year-old local councillor allegedly introduced a firearm during a scuffle involving a 45-year-old complainant.
“We can confirm that the councillor also reported a case of assault and malicious damage to property.
“Both cases are with the NPA for a decision,” McCarthy said.
Bryan Jasson, who opened the case against the speaker, said on Thursday that a fight broke out after Maasdorp allegedly pointed a firearm at his girlfriend.
The altercation started after a stray dog bit one of Maasdorp’s relatives.
“He [Maasdorp] came [from another street] with his [Toyota] Fortuner and started shouting at my mother who had nothing to do with the dog,” Jasson said.
“His wife was the first one to [allegedly] lay a hand on my sister. There was then a scuffle.”
Jasson alleged the councillor pulled his girlfriend away from her group, slapped her and placed a gun against her head.
“I came and smacked him because I was defending my girlfriend.
“That guy doesn’t care because he thinks he runs everything,” Jasson said.
In one of the videos, the councillor is seen storming out of a house, shouting angrily at a crowd.
Speaking in Afrikaans throughout the video, Maasdorp is heard yelling: “What are you f*cking doing here?”
Outraged onlookers start yelling back at Maasdorp followed by a flurry of profanities going back and forth before the speaker is seen walking back to his car.
In a second video, Maasdorp is seen emerging from his car with a firearm, walking towards the crowd.
A man can be seen walking towards Maasdorp as if taunting him to fire the gun.
Enraged by the gesture, Maasdorp can he heard shouting: “Touch me, touch me and I’ll show you your funeral!”
Williams’ spokesperson, Pheello Oliphant, said the MEC condemned Maasdorp’s alleged actions, saying those should not be the actions expected of an elected public representative.
“An elected public representative voted for by the people is not allowed to point a firearm at a resident.
“It is not only criminal conduct but also a violation of the councillors’ code of conduct.
“It is unacceptable and unlawful, and the councillors’ disciplinary code must kick in.
“Salga’s [SA Local Government Association] code of conduct also condemns such conduct,” he said.
Pointing a firearm or anything resembling one at another person without justifiable reason is illegal.
Maasdorp, an independent candidate, forms part of the ANC-led coalition in the municipality.
ANC Sarah Baartman secretary Johannes Hobbs said the law must take its course.
“Insofar as the coalition is concerned, we are having an REC [regional executive committee] officials meeting on Friday where the matter will be tabled as part of the agenda.
“You would be mindful that we just lost a ward to the PA in [Wednesday’s] by-election.
“That loss technically means we now have a hung council.
“The way forward in how we deal with that will be part of the agenda items,” he said.
The Herald
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