The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng welcomes the swift response by SAPS and the arrest of the assailant who allegedly assaulted DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, Solly Msimanga earlier today.
In a video on social media, Mr Msimanga can be seen bleeding from the mouth and head, while being accused by the assailant of being a thief and owing money. Mr Msimanga categorically asserts that he owes no one any such money and will consider laying charges against the assailant.
Mr Msimanga was on a social visit to his cousin in Benoni when the assailant, a business partner of the cousin, attacked Mr Msimanga’s family member.
Mr Msimanga tried to intervene when he too was attacked. While on video, the assailant then accused Mr Msimanga, who was on the phone to police, that Mr Msimanga owed him money.
The assailant was arrested by police and has since publicly apologised to Mr Msimanga, confirming that no monies was owed to him by Mr Msimanga.
The assailant also offered to pay the medical expenses and other losses Mr Msimanga may have suffered in the process.
The DA condemns this vicious and criminal attack on the Provincial Leader. Our country’s constitution asserts the rule of law as a founding provision. If there is a disagreement, whether involving money or not, South Africans should commit to working through the parameters of the law to resolve their differences. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands, and compromise the rights of others, as what occurred today. Violence is definitely not the answer.
Since this is a personal matter, the DA will respect Mr Msimanga’s decision on how to further deal with the matter.