Chaos erupted on Monday morning in the ongoing struggle between the Executive Mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipa, and local businessmen - mostly black business contractors who are service providers to the municipality. 

The Tactical Response Team was called early in the morning as the contractors had barricaded the gate to the building. In the video circulating on social media platforms, words are exchanged between the TRT Police and disgruntled contractors accusing them of assaulting them. 

The municipal offices had to close as the stand-off between the police and contractors was getting violent. The police used teargas to disperse the crowd.

This brawl between the contractors and the mayor started during community meetings where Khalipha was adamant that his administration won't pay outstanding accounts of the service providers that he never had business contracts with. Khalipha was quoted saying his administration refuses to be held hostage by people who called themselves businessmen that operates under trees. Meanwhile, the service providers are alleging that the municipality is able to pay white contractors.

OFM News has sent a media enquiry to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Safety, Reuben Tlake, who promised to write a detailed report. However, as it stands there is ongoing violence in the municipal building and the police are at the scene trying to control the situation.

OFM News also sent an enquiry to the municipality’s spokesperson, Kgojane Maputle, who indicated that the executive of the municipality and relevant stakeholders were in a meeting at the time of the enquiry.

OFM News/Ike Mosia and Mpho Mohapi