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A 27-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in the Ixopo Magistrate’s Court on charges of arson after a house belonging to the Ward 12 councillor in Ixopo was burnt on October 24.
SAPS spokesperson Captain Gcinumzi Dlamini confirmed the arrest of the man.
He said: “The suspect appeared in the Ixopo Magistrate’s Court on November 7 and the case was remanded to December 7.”
Speaking about the incident, Councillor Nancy Jili said she is still traumatised.
“It was after 9 pm and we were asleep when I was woken by a strange noise. When I went to investigate, I realised that the house was on fire.
“We managed to escape unharmed,” she said, adding that she is now staying with a relative.
Furniture and important documents were burnt in the fire.
In the Fever publication on November 2, Ubuhlebezwe Municipality spokesperson Mlungisi Dladla said Jili was provided with security personnel for 21 days in June after she heard gunshots at her house.
At the time, she was told to get her own security personnel when the 21 days ended.
On Wednesday morning, Jili attended a special council meeting at the Ubuhlebezwe Municipality chambers, and other councillors went to court to witness the proceedings of the case against the man accused of arson.
Ubuhlebezwe Municipality speaker Zwakele Mngonyama said councillors feel unsafe in Ixopo and in the Harry Gwala Region.
“The African National Congress members have visited Jili’s home to give their support.
“When residents are unhappy with services they burn the houses of councillors, which is not right,” said Mngonyama.
