Mpumalanga Speaker Faces Allegations of Assaulting Chief During Mandela Day Celebration

A community gathering to commemorate Mandela Day in Kriel, near Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, took an ugly turn when Mduduzi “Mswati” Nkosi, the Emalahleni local municipality council speaker, was accused of assaulting a prominent local traditional leader. Chief Tony Mahlangu, of the AmaNdebele Nzunza clan, claimed that the speaker physically attacked him during the event which was organized by mining giant Glencore.

The celebration was meant to foster unity and honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela, making the accusation of violence particularly shocking. Traditional leaders, community members, and officials from the Emalahleni municipality were present when the alleged incident took place.

Chief Mahlangu recounts the ordeal stating that his intention was to seek clarification and correct the speaker during his address to the audience, but instead of dialogue, he faced aggression. As per his narrative, after signaling his wish to speak, Nkosi approached and manhandled him, ultimately grabbing his private parts. The assault was immediately interrupted as people from both parties intervened, leading to Mahlangu's prompt departure from the event with his delegation.

The chief expressed his distress, highlighting the inappropriate behavior of a government official, particularly one that is younger than himself, engaging in such conduct publicly. Taking legal advice, Mahlangu has since opened a case of assault at Kriel police station and escalated the matter to the ANC's provincial office in an effort to address Nkosi's conduct.

Mduduzi Nkosi, on the other hand, expressed a contrasting account of the events. Initially refraining from making statements and deferring to Glencore, Nkosi later denied the allegations through a voice note, emphasizing his commitment to public service, constitutional respect, and non-retaliation even in the face of provocation. According to Nkosi, he was addressing the crowd when Mahlangu arrived and denies any physical confrontation took place.

Nkosi voiced uncertainty over whether a formal complaint had been lodged against him but signaled his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement once contacted. He also suggested his VIP protectors could testify on his behalf, as they ensure his security at all times and would have witnessed any such incident.

This confrontation has been framed by an anonymous source as part of a pattern, suggesting that Chief Mahlangu has disrupted previous government events in the Emalahleni area. The source recalled an instance where the chief took the stage unexpectedly to speak during a gathering already represented by Contralesa president, Chief Mathupa Mokoena.

The incident has cast a shadow on the Mandela Day celebrations, intended to reflect on and live up to the ideals of the late South African president. Both the allegations and the denial have ignited a contentious dialogue in the community, and the local police, as well as the ANC's provincial body, will be key in unraveling the truth behind these serious claims.