Former Mayor of Newcastle, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, has been found guilty by the Newcastle Regional Court for inciting assault and has been handed a R20 000 fine or two years in jail.
Dr Mahlaba, who appeared in court on Monday, 22 November, was summoned to court in July of this year; facing a string of charges which included theft, violence and malicious damage to property.
This comes after an incident which took place on 3 September 2020, in which Dr Mahlaba and two of this bodyguards allegedly assaulted employees from a subcontractor.
The former mayor was found guilty on charges pertaining to the assault of a fibre cable contractor employee and he was given the option of paying a hefty R20 000 fine.
Magistrate Thenis Codlitz found that according to evidence, while Dr Mahlaba was not personally involved in the crimes, he incited others to do so.
Dr Mahlaba’s supporters were quick to dismiss the allegations as politically motivated while others have been calling for his resignation as mayor and ANC Regional Chairperson.
KZN SAPS Provincial Spokesperson, Brigadier Jay Naicker, said that the other three individuals who were charged in the case appeared in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on 26 July 2021.
“They were charged for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property as well as theft,” said Brig Naicker.
Dr Mahlaba was also previously charged with the murder of Wandile Ngubeni, the leader of the ANC Youth League, but after the death of the key witness, the charges were dropped.
