Assault caught on video but both DA, ANC lay complaints
Damning cellphone footage in the hands of police shows ANC councillor Andile Lungisa smashing a glass water jug on a DA councillor’s head during a heated brawl which degenerated into unprecedented violence in the Nelson Mandela Bay council this week.
The footage shows Lungisa and ANC councillor Makhi Feni near the speaker’s bench in an argument with DA councillor Rano Kayser.
Kayser’s back is to the camera, with Lungisa and Feni facing him.
After a few seconds, Lungisa raises his hand and smashes a glass water jug over Kayser’s head. Shards of glass explode over all their heads as Kayser falls face forward onto the ground.
DA councillor Andy Jordan is seen hitting Lungisa with a flagpole. Lungisa then runs out of view of the camera and to the right side of the council chamber.
A gunshot then goes off, with police claiming a security guard pulled the trigger.
The violence erupted when the council decided that the conduct of ANC Ward 16 councillor Xola Sabani would be probed after Sabani allegedly started a public municipal meeting, meant to be led by Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip and his executive, an hour before the scheduled start time.
During the fracas, Trollip is seen ducking as a glass flies over his head.
This footage was handed to police – who called it “damning” and “overwhelming” – on Thursday night.
Police sources have confirmed viewing the footage and that a suspect would soon be arrested for assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm.
Police insiders said they had not yet arrested Lungisa as conflicting versions, of events from the DA and ANC had to be ironed out.
Detectives obtained a statement from Kayser yesterday.
