Former head of communications at the Department of Education, Lehuma Ntuane, has compensated a Sol Plaatje municipal official through a mediation agreement for malicious damage to property and common assault. He will pay the official R35,000.
FORMER head of communications at the Department of Education, Lehuma Ntuane, has compensated a Sol Plaatje municipal official through a mediation agreement for malicious damage to property and common assault. He will pay the official R35,000.
The incident took place in March 2021 where the official’s car’s windows were smashed with a panga while it was parked at the municipal grounds.
Charges of common assault were opened against Ntuane on March 30 2021.
According to the municipal official, Ntuane asked him about his (Ntuane’s) wife and while he was trying to explain, he started to choke him inside his bakkie.
“I told him to ask his wife what was happening and advised him that he had no evidence against me.”
He stated that a scuffle broke out during which he was poked in the eyes.
“After he loosened his grip I opened the door of my vehicle and my iPhone fell to the ground and broke.”
He indicated that Ntuane then approached from the other side of the vehicle with a panga.
“He charged towards me but ran away when the security came to see what the commotion was all about.”
He stated that Ntuane later returned to vandalise his car during which several windows were smashed.
“The door handles and the front light were also broken and damages to the amount of R90,000 were incurred. My vehicle had to be repaired in Bloemfontein and while my insurance paid out a portion of the damages, I was responsible for a large excess payment.”
He added that Ntuane was made to offer an apology in court on March 30.
Ntuane declined to comment.
