Tragic Coligny accident exploited for political reasons
4 May 2017
Solidarity Chairperson Flip Buys, together with institutions that form part of the Solidarity Movement, such as trade union Solidarity, AfriForum and Helping Hand, yesterday, 3 May paid an emergency visit to Coligny. They visited the town to gather facts about the situation, to support the town’s neighbourhood watch organisations, and to provide social assistance to the community where necessary.
The visit revealed that a tense political atmosphere has prevailed in Coligny for some time already between ANC members and mayor-elect Daniel Buthelezi. According to Buys, the death of 16-year-old Matlhomola Mosweu, who died when he had allegedly jumped from a farmer’s moving bakkie, is a tragic accident. Buys is of the opinion that the accident has since been exploited for political agendas by people who do not live in the town and have been bussed in, leaving in its wake crime and looting. A heavy police presence has been deployed in town and it was clear yesterday that the SAPS had the situation under control.
“A contingency plan is in place should further violence continue following the court ruling,” Buys said. At this stage, the police and the community are preventing access to external troublemakers who want to instigate matters in undesirable ways.
According to Coligny’s businesspeople healthy race relations have prevailed over the years in the community and the current situation is being blown out of proportion through social media abuse and false rumours that have been spread about events. Buys says it is remarkable to see how the Coligny community still stands together, helping one another. This comes after serious damage had been done to private homes, businesses in the informal settlement that belong mainly to foreigners and to shops in town.