Mayco member suspended as teen crash probe heats up

A Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral committee member has been suspended by her party after it emerged that her car was linked to a crash that resulted in a Zwide teenager being critically injured this week.

Sinebhongo Kwatsha, the political head for sport, recreation, arts and culture, received her suspension letter on Wednesday but remains a councillor pending the outcome of an investigation by the Defenders of the People (DOP).

The accident prompted an attempted murder case, with police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli saying on Thursday that a man was being investigated in connection with the incident.

“We can confirm that there is only one person of interest in the case of attempted murder, and that was the driver of the motor vehicle in question,” Nkohli said.

Meanwhile, DOP president Ruphus Mphahlele said Kwatsha had not been charged but had been placed on precautionary suspension.

This would give the party time to conduct an internal investigation.

“The issue is that we learnt of serious allegations that her vehicle was involved in an accident that is being investigated by the police,” Mphahlele said.

“When we inquired with her, she said she was not driving the car, hence we have to conduct an investigation, which will also be informed by the police investigation that is also under way.”

Asked whether the party would be replacing Kwatsha, Mphahlele said the party would meet to discuss the next step.

“We will, as the leadership of DOP, see what the best move is for the position as Kwatsha is an MMC in the sport, recreation, arts and culture post, and [committee] meetings need to continue,” Mphahlele said.

Kasi Food Festival Eastern Cape chief executive Theo Gora is being investigated after he allegedly struck grade 12 Ndzondelelo High School pupil Misomihle Nkwalase, 18, in Veeplaas on Saturday night, claiming he was part of a group of armed men who had robbed him.

He is at the centre of allegations of vigilantism and has been released from his position at Kasi Delivery.

The businessman, who also co-owns the Kasi Food Festival, could not be reached for comment.

The teenager underwent surgery at Livingstone Hospital on Monday morning after suffering from internal bleeding, a cracked skull and a swollen brain.

Family spokesperson Xolisa Jafta could not be reached to provide an update on Nkwalase’s condition.

Gora had admitted in a public post on his Facebook page to accidentally striking an individual with his vehicle when chasing the man down moments after he and a group of others had allegedly robbed him at gunpoint.

He claimed in the post, which has since gone viral, that five unknown men had robbed him of his cellphone and money after he left work.

In a series of now deleted social media comments, purportedly written by Kwatsha, she appeared to defend Gora, suggesting he did not flee the scene and had taken steps to assist those involved, while also referencing her own experiences of crime.

In another post, also since deleted, she purportedly referred to having been held up at gunpoint, implying that those commenting might view the situation differently had they faced the same danger.

Despite multiple attempts to reach her, Kwatsha did not respond to calls or text messages.

When a reporter finally reached her by phone, she answered but hung up as soon as the journalist introduced herself.

Subsequent calls also went unanswered.

Director in the office of the speaker, Dumisani Mbebe, said Kwatsha’s status as a councillor remained unchanged.

“We’ve not received anything from DOP, but procedurally, when a councillor is on precautionary suspension, that person remains a councillor until the party concerned changes its party list with the IEC,” Mbebe said.

“At this stage, I’m the municipal electoral officer and nothing has been sent from the office of the city manager.”

Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the metro acknowledged the precautionary suspension.

“We respect and appreciate the party’s decisive action in ensuring accountability and due process while the matter is being investigated,” he said.

“The municipality will await the conclusion of the DOP’s internal processes before taking any further administrative steps in this regard.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the young resident now receiving medical treatment after the unfortunate incident.

“The municipality conveys its deepest sympathy to the family and wishes the individual a full and speedy recovery.”

The festival is scheduled to take place on November 1 at the KwaMagxaki Sports Ground, with the metro being one of the sponsors.

Asked if the municipality would still sponsor the festival, Soyaya said the city had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) to jointly support initiatives that stimulated local economic development, particularly those that empowered township-based enterprises and youth-led creative industries.

“The festival remains a strategically important platform for advancing small business growth, job creation and tourism activation within the metro.”

Soyaya said the municipality would continue to monitor developments in collaboration with the ECDC and relevant law enforcement agencies until the investigations were concluded.