A senior Buffalo City Metro official who allegedly received death threats on the first day at the office is set to receive close security services pending a security assessment by provincial police.
The department head opened a criminal case with the East London police after allegedly receiving a call and a text message on the first day of work at BCM.
The threatening call and text message, according to a confidential report to be tabled during a special council meeting on Wednesday, were reported to police a few hours later.
The official on Monday refused to comment and referred questions to city spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya.
Ngwenya said he could not comment on the sensitive and confidential issue.
“We cannot comment on the security details and the need to provide security to a person.
“More so on a report that is a confidential item destined for council consideration.
“We are constrained to talk to the media about this sensitive matter,” Ngwenya said.
However, in the “top secret” report to be tabled by city manager Mxolisi Yawa during a closed-door session of the Wednesday meeting, it was revealed that the alleged threats were from an unknown isiZulu-speaking person.
In the confidential report, Yawa tells council that the post is a volatile position.
“It must be noted that the previous incumbent of the post ... was subjected to three attempts on his life before he was sadly killed ... [the new official] has already received threats,” Yawa wrote.
“The message sent read: “Noma ungangalubambi ucingo sila e East London. Sicela ukukubona mawthanda or kuzodlwela ethendeni la kini.”
This is loosely translated to; “Even if you are not picking up your phone, we are here in East London. We ask that you meet up with us or your family will end up eating in a tent.”
Yawa will tell council that he wrote to the provincial police’s crime intelligence unit, requesting that a security threat assessment be undertaken “to ascertain the need for security detail and support”.
In the report, Yawa said that while city bosses were yet to receive a response from provincial police, measures had been put in place by the metro’s directorate of public safety and emergency services.
He said he wrote to the unit on August 6 and sent a reminder on September 19.
“A report on the security risk assessment is still awaited,” Yawa wrote.
Copies of both letters to the police are attached to the report.
Reflecting on the financial implications relating to the current arrangement, Yawa said “overtime will be required to be paid to the VIP close protectors should overtime be worked”.
East London police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala on Monday confirmed that a case was opened at the East London police station but it had been transferred to the province’s serious and violent crimes unit.
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