By STAFF REPORTER
The Greater Taung Local Municipality speaker, Ebusang Tladi said he fears for his life. This comes after Tladi received a WhatsApp messages insinuating that he was scheming with the municipality’s Chief Whip, Joyce Malepe to oust the Municipal Manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi, and some Directors those who disobey their orders.
However, defiant Tladi denied sending those disparaging messages to anyone. He confirmed to Taung DailyNews that he also received death threats a few days after the leaked bogus messages making rounds on social media platforms.
“On Friday, I was from the North West Provincial Taxi Lekgotlha in Rustenburg and on my way out of Koster, I received a call from the ANC Chief Whip in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, Joyce Malepe asking me about the string of messages that I have sent out.
“I asked her which messages is she referring to and she promised to send those messages through WhatsApp. Shockingly, those messages depict and insinuate that I had a conversation with her where we ploy against other members,” he said.
Tladi further said some of the messages imply that they are also planning to re-shuffle the exco. He added he also received death threats messages a few days after.
“This prompted me to open defamation of character and intimidation case at Taung Police Station. Many people believed that it was me who sent out those messages. I received many calls from various people including the ANC leadership.
“I normally do not respond to anything that is said about me, but these damning messages affect my reputation. I am a leader and a man of integrity, so I cannot allow disgruntled individuals to tarnish my character just like that,” said Tladi.
He believed that there are some individuals who want to hijack the municipality and use it for self-enrichment. Tladi said his detractors labelled him as a ‘stumbling block’ at the municipality hence he is targeted.
“Some of my detractors have done this before back in 2016. This is not the only story because on Thursday last week, I received a SMS where a person asked me why I am talking bad about them.
“I called that person, but he/she did not pick up the phone. He/she said bad things about me through the messages and I did not know who that was. I believe that people want me dead simply because I defeated them,” he said.
Tladi added that he was also allegedly attacked on Wednesday at the North West Provincial Legislature when the municipality appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “We can confirm that the case in question has been opened. No one has been arrested at this stage and investigation into the matter continues.”
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