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Rano Kayser, the DA’s member of the mayoral committee for roads and transport in Nelson Mandela Bay, was badly injured in a scuffle which erupted at the Wool Exchange building in Port Elizabeth yesterday afternoon.
While in a closed-session green paper discussion, ANC and DA councillors became involved in a heated argument during the council meeting.
The ANC opposition councillors allegedly objected strongly to an item on the confidential green paper document.
It is further alleged that glass jugs on the tables were thrown and Kayser suffered a heavy gash to the head.
ANC councillor Rosie Daaminds is believed to have passed out during the scuffle.
Both councillors were taken to hospital for treatment.
Speaking to City Press, Executive Mayor Athol Trollip said a warning shot was fired in the chamber by one of the municipality’s security guards.
“After the warning shot was fired, the chaos came to an end,” said Trollip.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed that the SA Police Service would be investigating the matter.
At a press briefing held earlier today at the ANC regional offices, the ANC defended its officials’ actions, saying that yesterday’s incident showed the DA’s intensity of hatred towards the ANC.
Andile Lungisa, one of the ANC councillors at the centre of the fracas, said ANC members were defending themselves.
“When we advanced to the Speaker’s bench, the DA councillors came towards us in large numbers,” he said.
“Glasses were thrown around. We were defending ourselves because we would have been overpowered.”
The ANC panellists strongly criticised the use of the gun and its presence in the chambers.
They said it was a security breach to have a weapon in chambers.
They also criticised the inclusion of the item in the green paper without their knowledge.
Bicks Ndoni, leader of the opposition in council, said the fracas was caused by an incident which occurred three weeks ago during an Integrated Development Planning meeting, held in Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton.
“In all the development planning meetings, our ANC has been marginalised, sidelined and ridiculed,” he said.
“In all these instances, we have pleaded with the DA in our multiparty forums that the manner in which they are conducting development planning meetings is provocative.”
