An Amathole district municipality councillor has opened a case of assault after a violent altercation at work on Monday morning.
Nanziwe Rulashe was assaulted and dragged, kicking and screaming, from her office by armed men. Five people have been arrested, including the district’s two security personnel.
Videos of the attack had circulated widely on social media by Monday afternoon.
ANC Amathole regional secretary Teris Ntutu said: “We saw the video and we condemned this gender-based violence against women. The security guards could have handled this matter differently.”
Rulashe said the incident took place moments after a heated strategic planning meeting at their offices.
Rulashe said: “I was in my office when a woman came and said she was head of security and had been instructed to remove me from the building because I was disrupting a meeting.”
The woman was accompanied by armed men who dragged her from her office, injuring her in the process, she alleged.
It is alleged that the instruction to have Rulashe removed was issued by municipal manager Thembekile Mnyimba.
When asked for a response to the allegation, Mnyimba said in a statement which the municipality released.
In it, the municipality distanced itself from the alleged assault and said: “It is very sad to view and read about the alleged incident that took place in ADM head offices yesterday. [The] Amathole District Municipality council, including the executive management, distances itself from disturbing scenes circulating on social media platforms with the contempt it deserves. This matter will be fully investigated and as the executive mayor, I will act accordingly.”