Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal – Zandile Radebe, a 40-year-old office administrator, is distraught after allegedly being assaulted and insulted by IFP Mayor Sobholenyoni Myeza at her workplace on 16 January.
Radebe claims Myeza, the mayor of Mduduzi municipality, struck her three times across the face, leaving her both physically and emotionally wounded. She reported the incident to the Estcourt Police Station the same day, but her distress intensified as no arrests have yet been made.
“The mayor arrived at the office and accused me of not doing my work properly,” Radebe recounted to Daily Sun. “When I asked him why, he slapped me. When I asked him why he was assaulting me, he slapped me again, and then a third time, all while insulting me. I opened a case that day, and I’m asking myself why he hasn’t been arrested yet. I want a trial for this.”
Radebe’s account is corroborated by Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal police. He confirmed that an investigation into charges of common assault and crimen injuria is underway, stemming from an altercation between a 40-year-old woman and a known suspect at her place of employment on 16 January.
“Reports indicate that the victim was assaulted in the face and insulted,” Netshiunda stated. Despite the police investigation, no arrests have been made. This delay has fuelled Radebe's concerns and prompted her to seek justice.
The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga, who visited Radebe at her home to offer support. Shinga unequivocally condemned the alleged assault and called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrator. “We take a zero-tolerance stance against gender-based violence and abuse of power,” Shinga declared.
“All allegations of misconduct must be thoroughly investigated, and those found guilty must face the full might of the law.” Shinga confirmed that the matter will be followed up with the relevant authorities and that Radebe will receive necessary support, including counselling.
Radebe alleges the assault occurred during a disagreement over votes collected from various branches in preparation for the IFP’s national elective conference. “The mayor beat me, and I felt disrespected because I am a disabled woman,” she stated. This detail adds another layer of complexity to the case, raising concerns about potential abuse of power.
Mayor Myeza, however, vehemently denies the allegations. In a statement to Scrolla, he described the accusations as a politically motivated smear campaign designed to damage his reputation. “I was not even in that office on the day of the incident,” he claimed. “I was in Weenen working on the branches as the IFP prepares for the upcoming elective conference. When I arrived at 5 pm in Estcourt, I found out about the issue, but the allegations were subsequently linked to me, and I am shocked. Why am I not being arrested if I am the one who assaulted her?”
The IFP's internal processes are also addressing the allegations. Myeza appeared before the IFP Provincial Oversight Committee, chaired by Umhlathuze Mayor Siyabonga Ngwezi. While some within the IFP Youth Brigade, including Johannesburg councillor Mlungisi Mabaso and King Cetshwayo Deputy Mayor Philile Xulu, have publicly voiced their support for Myeza, suggesting a political dimension to the controversy, a source within the IFP indicated that the party’s national executive committee (NEC) will receive a report on the matter and determine a course of action. Attempts to obtain comment from IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa proved unsuccessful.
The incident comes against a backdrop of rising concerns about gender-based violence (GBV) in KwaZulu-Natal. Towards the end of 2024, the province witnessed a surge in such cases, including one particularly horrific instance where a man murdered his partner and then shared a video of the act on social media.
