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- Salga acting CEO Lance Joel has denounced the level of protection available to local government officials.
- This comes after the kidnapping and later release of two Nkangala District Municipality employees.
- Manager Maggie Skhosana and her driver Gugu Mtsweni, who were snatched in Middelburg, were later found unharmed in Diepsloot.
Public officials at the local government level are soft targets for violence and threats, unlike their national level counterparts, acting CEO of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) Lance Joel says.
He denounced the level of protection offered to councillors and municipal managers following the abduction of Nkangala District Municipality manager Maggie Skhosana and her driver Gugu Mtsweni, who have since been found.
The two women were snatched from the district offices in Middelburg a week ago. They were allegedly held hostage in a room for over a week before they were dumped unharmed on the side of the N14 in Diepsloot on Wednesday.
Joel told News24 that there was a lack of protection for local government officials and that this needed urgent attention.
While the motive behind the abductions is still unknown, Joel weighed in on reasons why municipal employees and councillors were at risk of being attacked.
READ | 'They said they would not kill us': Maggie Skhosana speaks out after kidnapping
Among the scenarios he mentioned were whistleblowing, doing the right thing even if it meant going against their colleague, and competition over positions.
On Friday, thanksgiving prayers were held at the Nkangala District Municipality following the return of Skhosana and Mthweni.
This gathering happened before the media briefing by Mayor Leah Mabuza.
Mabuza said she and the municipality were grateful for the safe return of the two women.
"We know many women who have not been found alive, young children who have been abducted but not found alive. We are so lucky for the mercy of God that we could find Maggie Skhosana and Gugu Mtsweni alive."
Mabuza said police investigations would reveal the motives behind the crime.
"We are really anxious to know what could have been the motive for kidnapping a woman who is physically challenged."
Mabuza said she would give Skhosana time to recover before returning to work.
In the meantime, the chief financial officer would act in her position.
