Councillor receives death threats
AN INTERDICT and a protection order have been obtained against three community members as the ANC ward 16 councillor Casper Rammutle has apparently been on the receiving end of death threats.
Rammutle related that he was warned that he would be stabbed to death and that his house in Phutanang would be set alight.
Community members complained that there was no service delivery, while the bulk infrastructure project in the Snake Park informal settlement had come to an abrupt standstill.
“We are still forced to make use of the bucket system,” the community members said.
They added that the councillor was “arrogant”.
“We recently found a bag of municipal accounts, which never reached our addresses, dumped in the veld. We are being prevented from attending community meetings because we are asking too many questions.
“We also want to know why the ward councillor is driving around with a motor vehicle licence that expired in 2012 when he is supposed to be a good example of abiding by the laws of the country.”
Rammutle pointed out that councillors around the country were being killed.
“My freedom is violated. I can’t walk around freely and my family is also at risk. I have a duty to serve the community. I have to conduct door-to-door visits and hold meetings when it is not safe to do so.”
He added that he was being harassed and was told that he would be “dealt with and killed” during community meetings.
He related that during one of these meetings a man who was carrying a screwdriver in his pocket threatened to stab him.
Rammutle believed that he was the target of a smear campaign orchestrated by the EFF.
“There is no coalition here, I am the only ward councillor and I will not back down even if my life and that of my family are in danger. That is why I had to obtain an interdict and protection order against three hooligans – whom I believe are being instigated by the EFF.
“They are always disrupting community meetings and I am being threatened with burning tyres. I was insulted at a funeral in the presence of the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs. I also opened charges of crimen injuria at the Kagisho police station.”
He pointed out that proportional representatives (PR) did not have any authority in his ward.
“The EFF PR councillor is trying to be the councillor when he belongs in council - he must know his place. I am prepared to die while fulfilling my God-given responsibility to lead my people. I am continuing with my work as a councillor and for the ANC despite the death threats.”
Rammutle explained that he was in the process of renewing his motor vehicle licence.
“I am busy fixing my steering wheel and once the car is serviced and given a roadworthy test, I will renew the licence.”
EFF PR councillor Kenneth Kock believed that the death threats against Rammutle were being made by ANC members.
“There is division in the party, the death threats come from factions within the ANC,” said Kock.
He added that the community became agitated and angry as the councillor was failing to hold regular community meetings and was reluctant to answer questions during public engagements.
“As a result, I held EFF meetings with my constituency to update the community about the integrated development plan. The bulk infrastructure project at the Snake Park informal settlement has fallen flat. The contractor removed all their equipment and no work has taken place on site for several months.
“People are frustrated. I will be opening charges with the South African Human Rights Commission and the Hawks so that they can investigate where the money went for this project. The former ANC councillor, Boitumelo Stout, managed to secure funds for the project before he contested the ward as an independent councillor.”
Kock stated that he had retrieved the bag of municipal accounts dated March that was dumped in the veld.
“Residents have not received their bills for a number of months. An investigation must be conducted into who discarded these accounts.’
