A former councillor of the Makhado Municipality was arrested after he had allegedly shot at an ANC member during the party's Tshikhwikhwikhwi branch's elective meeting that was held at Bele Primary school.

The 54-year-old suspect, Mr Albert Muvhumbe, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, following the incident. The spokesperson for the Siloam police, W/O Edward Tharaga, confirmed Muvhumbe's arrest. "The police have opened a case of attempted murder, following the incident," he said. Tharaga added that no one was injured during the shooting.

Muvhumbe appeared before the Dzanani Magistrate's Court on Monday and is now out on R2 000 bail.

Muvhumbe served as chairperson of the Tshikhwikhwikhwi ANC branch for roughly 10 years. He also served as a portfolio head for Rural Development and Land Affairs at the Makhado Municipality until May last year.

"We cannot build the organisation by threatening each other. We were supposed to be learning from Muvhumbe as a veteran. Now we are very disappointed in him," remarked the chairperson of the Tshikhwikhwikhwi ANC branch, Mr Nehemiah Madzhiga.

Madzhiga, who is also a councillor for Ward 30, added that members might differ in opinion from time to time, but they never produced guns. "The policy of the ANC does not allow members to behave the way Muvhumbe did," he said.

He added that the incident frightened other members who may now feel afraid of attending ANC meetings in the future. The meeting to launch this particular branch had been postponed for quite some time now. It is said that there were other members who had been disturbing the meetings after seeing that they were losing ground during the elections.

Cllr Livhuwani Netshipise, the Speaker of the Mutale Municipality, was an ANC deployee at the meeting. She said that the behaviour was barbaric. "In the ANC, we do not fight for positions. I was surprised and shocked by the incident. The problem started when I called all the members (to come) closer, so I could address them because the meeting was not progressing.  I then decided to postpone the meeting," she said.

Netshipise added that while she was busy addressing the members, Muvhumbe came and blocked the gate with his bakkie, preventing members from leaving the school premises. "That is where the fight started. The man even produced a firearm and pointed it at one of the members. The last thing I heard was a gunshot. I then called the police," said Netshipise.

When contacted for comment, Muvhumbe said that he had not point at anyone with a gun. "When I arrived at the meeting, I found people beating up some boys. I then took out my gun and fired a shot to try and disperse the crowd that was beating up the boys. The gate was locked and they were unable to get out. After I fired the shot, the crowd dispersed and the boys were free, although they had sustained injuries," continued Muvhumbe. He said the chairperson of the branch had instructed people to beat up the boys.

Muvhumbe's lawyer, Adv Shonisani Ravele, also confirmed the allegations. He stated, however,  that the allegations could not stand in court as there was no evidence that his client had tried to shoot anybody. "He only fired a warning short to disperse the crowd that was beating the boys, which included Muvhumbe's son," said Ravele.