The government official caught at the centre of the controversy surrounding journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika's arrest has apparently been receiving death threats. Victor Mlimi, a Mbombela councillor and deputy director in Mpumalanga's housing department, says that he has been suspended from his government post on 54 "trumped up" misconduct charges and has also received telephonic death threats.
Mlimi was arrested and charged alongside Wa Afrika on fraud, forgery and uttering (circulating fraudulent items) charges for supposedly being in possession of an alleged fake letter of resignation from Premier David Mabuza to President Jacob Zuma. The charges were provisionally withdrawn on Wednesday, to allow the State to properly investigate the allegations and the actual role played by Wa Afrika and Mlimi in the controversy. “It is strange that I was arrested and charged for a document that was not in my possession. This case has made my life difficult because since I was arrested I've received death threats from faceless people. I was also suspended two weeks ago, on very strange charges," Mlimi told African Eye News Service (AENS). He said he had neither reported the threats to the police nor had he hired private security. “What is the point of reporting death threats to the police in this province? They are the people who arrested me. They are probably on the payroll of the person who is behind the whole mess here," he said.
Mlimi said he also received death threats in 2005, when he protested against intimidation during the election of a chairperson of the ANC Ehlanzeni regional executive council that year. He said. more recently, he was accused of paying the R8 000 bail of former ANC member James Nkambule, now COPE's chairman in Ehlanzeni, after his arrest in March. Nkambule was arrested for supposedly obstructing justice, fraud and forgery after claiming to be in possession of a hit-list of politicians and officials believed to be critical of the provincial government. Nkambule claimed that the list was drafted by a hitman, known only as 'Josh', who had been hired by a high-level but unnamed politician.
Mlimi's name was on the list, along with the assassinated speaker of the Mbombela local municipality Jimmy Mohlala, who was investigating tender irregularities around the Mbombela Stadium. “My only mistake was to attend Nkambule's court appearance, not knowing that the next time I came to court I would be an accused in [this] strange political case,” he said.
Mlimi declined to say on Wednesday whether he intended suing for defamation or other damages after the charges were withdrawn this week. Wa Afrika has indicated that he intends suing individuals in both government and political parties. He refused to name the people.
Premier Mabuza's office has, however, made a number of public statements accusing Nkambule and Wa Afrika of undermining government and participating in a campaign to unseat Mabuza. The provincial ANC Youth League and the South African National Civic Organisation have gone further and accused the two of being 'traitors'. Mabuza's spokesman, Mabutho Sithole, this week refused to comment of the withdrawal of charges. Provincial ANCY spokesman Ozzy Ronald Lamola said however that it is "disappointing" to hear that Wa Afrika was a free man. “Our disappointment stems from the fact that he was accused of a very dangerous crime that warranted him being charged with high treason. We, however, respect the due process of the law and hope that he is not off the hook as we believe that the investigation will confirm that he must indeed be charged with high treason,” said Lamola.
Sanco provincial treasurer Raymond Makamo accused the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of bowing to public pressure by withdrawing the charges against Wa Afrika. “Why did they charge him in the first place if they did not have enough evidence against him? We believe that there is a case against Wa Afrika,” said Makamo.
After Mlimi and Wa Afrika's brief court appearance on Wednesday, the NPA returned Wa Afrika's passport, notebooks and other documents that were confiscated from his house when he was arrested on August 4.
Source: Capital
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