By OBAKENG MAJE
16 December 2025- Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality mayor, Sebang Motlhabi is accused of assaulting a traffic officer and Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) personnel on Friday. This comes after his brother, Itumeleng Motlhabi, was involved in an accident on N12 road, approximately 10km outside Bloemhof towards Wolmaranstad.
Poloko Sere, who was also involved in an accident, alleged that she was disappointed in how Sebang conducted himself. Sere alleged that the mayor’s brother was speeding, and fortunately, she was driving slowly due to rain.
“They were from a party as their vehicle was having alcohol. While we were there, the mayor of Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality, Sebang Motlhabi, who is known for assaulting people, started to assault the EMRS personnel and a traffic officer. I was with my children and my little one was traumatized. The situation was made worse by the behaviour of the person who was supposed to be a good leader.
“Instead, he assaulted the traffic officer on duty. He was also rude while the EMRS personnel were looking for P1. They proposed that the children also be attended to because they were traumatised. However, he started to insult people,” she said.
Sere further said only if the mayor had let the EMRS personnel to do their work, maybe his brother could have survived. She added that even if she felt sorry and understood that he is a human being, he was not supposed to insult people who are there to assist.
“He belittled me, but is ok. Even if my grandson is injured, I praise God to Almighty for saving me. I wish his brother was alive to see the trauma, severe anxiety and pain he caused to my kids. My elder son is autistic and suffering from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Please, spread the word that, when people are from year end parties and drunk, they should not drive.
“I’m so exhausted emotionally and spiritually. This is the same politician we voted for and failed to render service to us. But, he belittles and assaults us. I heard the same mayor has many assault cases, but he is never being arrested. But from me as a single parent, I give everything to God,” said Sere.
However, Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality mayor, Sebang Motlhabi refuted the allegations and described them as absurd. Motlhabi said he lost a brother due to unscrupulous services he received from EMRS personnel who attended the accident scene.
“Those personnel took time to attend to a critical patient. I received a call around 3:58pm that informed me that my brother is involved in a car accident. So, it took me about 6 minutes to drive to the scene because it is just 10km from Bloemhof to Wolmaranstad. When we arrived there, we found the EMRS personnel sitting inside their ambulance, but two patients were lying critically on the ground without any assistance. On arrival, I said to them, this is an emergency, why do not they quickly stabilise these patients and ferry them to hospital?
“However, they just kept quiet, but female EMRS personnel said they could not do anything as they were securing the scene. She took out cones from the ambulance. I asked them why they secured the scene, while there were police already on the scene with blue lights on,” said Motlhabi.
Motlhabi said he told EMRS personnel that it is their obligation to save lives, which they did not do. He said unfortunately, they had to wait for about 20 minutes before the EMRS personnel attended to the patients.
“However, when they attended to the patients, they administered supplemental oxygen to my brother and did not monitor it. This resulted in the oxygen choking him and the foam came out. Even my wife told them that there is foam coming out of my brother’s mouth, but they just ignored her.
“We asked them why they put the oxygen on a critical patient without monitoring it. My brother passed away around 9:10pm and for the past 45 minutes, he was lying there without proper assistance from the EMRS personnel,” said Motlhabi.
He said it is erroneous for people to expect them to accept this kind of treatment, simply because they are holding positions of responsibilities. Motlhabi said he opened a culpable homicide case against EMRS personnel who were involved and he would now pursue a civil case against them after the funeral of his brother.
“I am going to pursue a civil case against these personnel, not the North West Department of Health. We cannot at all times sue the government, whereas there are individuals who are reluctant to do their duties. I did not assault anyone. At the time, I was holding a torch and immediately after my brother passed away, I threw it to the ground and told these EMRS personnel that I have been telling them to attend to my brother, but they did not listen.
“Now, he is no more. This is politically motivated because I read the media statement released by the South African Emergency Personnel’s Union (SAEPU), where they highlighted that I must step-aside. So, they have already concluded their case that I am guilty? However, the credible court of law will take a decision on the matter,” he said.
SAEPU president, Mpho Mpogeng said: “The mayor did not only attack the traffic officer and the paramedic, but he also belittled and verbally abused the woman, showing no compassion or humanity. He obstructed the paramedics from providing medical assistance to her children, whereas one of them has a disability. The mayor displayed a lack of empathy and disregard for human life.”
The Guardian 