VOTERS IN FIST FIGHT AT MAHLANYA NOMINATIONS

MAHLANYA – The nomination exercise at Mahlanya Umphakatsi under Lobamba Lomdzala was punctuated by ugly scenes – on the sidelines.

Young men engaged in a fierce fist fight that left some elderly women screaming for quick police intervention. This was after one of the fighting voters had been punched to the ground. As he was sprawling there, one man trampled upon him. The nomination exercise had to stop for a while as voters rushed to the scene to watch. It was unclear what the young men were fighting for, as they had been enjoying some drinks together, sharing experiences and jokes. Sources said certain jokes cracked by one of them irked one of the voters who was involved in the fight. The fist fight happened right at the gravel road near the nomination centre. Security officers found it difficult to mediate as the fighters ignored advice for calm and continued to exchange blows.

As the sound of the punches was heard, elderly people screamed in sorrow and dismay. Kicks, particularly as one of them was seen lying on the ground as if he had been hit by a stone, prompted a group of police and members of Correctional Services to intervene and calmed the situation. They were seen escorting the troublemakers to a certain spot. It could not be ascertained if police arrested or intended to press charges against them at a later stage.

safety

They (police) returned to the nomination centre to provide safety and security. After the situation had calmed down, the presiding officer and election officers continued with the business of the day, which was to nominated candidates for MP, Bucopho (constituency councilor) and indvuna yenkhundla (constituency headman). On another note, jubilation or ululation superceded the agenda at Mahlanya umphakatsi as soon as Siphiwe Nkambule had nominated Marwick Khumalo. It took the presiding officer about three minutes to request the voters to sit down and allow her to ask Khumalo if he would accept the nomination.

His followers mobbed him as he was sandwiched, with songs being sung in appreciation of his nomination. Others who will compete with him at primary elections are; Mkhuleko  Magongo (35), Lunga Mbuli (25), Mduduzi Dube (41), Dumsani Emmanuel Dlamini, Lobamba Mkhaliphi, Mkhuleko Hlatshwayo (36), Celumusa Thwala (43) and Simon Mvubu. Notable nominees in the indvuna yenkhundla category under Mahlanya umphakatsi were; Sabelo Magagula, an experienced counsellor in local government and son of the late former Minister of Transport and Construction (now Ministry of Public Works and Transport) and Bruno Busika, whose popularity was evident when he was nominated. His followers shouted ‘Bruno, Bruno.’  Qhazile Mkhize was a was also nominated. She is a 28-year-old woman with a disability. She was nominated for the position of constituency councillor.

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