It never stops raining for the Thulamela municipality... Several decisions the municipality made seemed to have gone wrong.

Not so long ago, the municipality was interdicted by the Mphaphuli Traditional Authority over the development of tribal land without the tribal authority’s consent. It is a historical fact that Thulamela also lost a court case that they lodged on the sale of sites against the Madonsi Traditional Authority on land they claimed was under the municipality.

Now, before the dust could settle after the two setbacks, the newly formed Congress of the People (COPE) has also inflicted a blow on the municipality. Cope won the first round when they were granted an interim order by Judge Hetisani of the Thohoyandou High Court against the municipality’s refusal to grant them the use of the local town hall, even though they had followed the right procedures.

COPE members were scheduled to hold their meeting there, but were forbidden to use the hall at the last minute. Hundreds of COPE members had gathered at the hall, not knowing that the meeting had been rescheduled and was in progress some 10 km away from the venue, at Thasululo Learning Centre at Tshisahulu. The confused members, who had hoped to see their leaders, Smuts Ngonyama, Willie Madisha and Solly Mkhatswa, were seen milling around the hall, which was under lock and key with security guards telling them they had been given strict instructions not to open the hall for them. 

The incident did not dampen the spirits of the party faithful who filled the Thasululo grounds to capacity and waited patiently for their leaders to arrive. The members were not disappointed as their leaders arrived amidst tumultuous and rapturous applause.

It was only after all the leaders had spoken to their supporters that a legal representative of COPE arrived and told the gathering that they had won their first round of their fight against the municipality’s refusal to open the hall for them, even though they had followed all protocol.

“We want to teach them a lesson. They think they can just do as they wish because we are a new party, but we will prove them wrong in court,” said Adv Sikhwivhilu, who represented the organization in court in a bid to force the municipality to reverse their decision. Sikhwivhilu said the locking of the hall was meant to disorganize them, because the municipality knows that they are an organization that cares and that they have a large following. “The municipality has gone too far this time. They think they are above the law and the lesson we will teach them will remain with them forever,” she said.

“We have won our first round and we have all the grounds to defeat them in court. The next round will be tough for them, as we would like them to compensate us for all the losses we incurred through their refusal to open the hall,” she said. Sikhwivhilu said they had been granted an order forcing the municipality to open the hall, but the meeting was nearing closing and it was decided to end matters there. The municipality will be sued for damages and for disorganising the party. They are scheduled to appear before the Thohoyandou High Court this Friday (December 12)

Responding to the incident, former secretary-general of the ANC, Smuts Ngonyama, who jumped ship to the newly formed organization, said it was sad that people were being deprived of their freedoms at their own places. “Our people have been beaten up at many places, while others have been killed and followed in unmarked cars. There is no freedom in this country,” he said.

He said they had tried all means to reverse the situation and all had failed. “Everything has failed and it is now time we move elsewhere and seek our freedom. Our women will not be raped again,” he said. Ngonyama commended the large group who had gathered as having made “the right decision of joining the organization of the people.  It is only through you that the freedoms that have been taken away can be regained and we can rebuild our country together,” he said. He said the ruling party had dug its own grave the day it fired the president who had the aspirations of the people at heart. He urged members to go in their droves to the polls next year and not to forget to vote for the party.  “This is a do-or-die situation, but with the support we have garnered from even whites, we will win elections,” he said.

Mirror tried in vain to get comment from the municipality. Mr Mbulungeni Madi’s phone went unanswered. Attempts to also draw comment from the municipality manager, Mr Makonde Mathivha, also drew a blank, as he was alleged to be in a meeting.