Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Ratepayers Association has rebutted the statement made by Bitou deputy mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi over the alleged discharging of a firearm, saying the alleged action caused alarm and a police investigation.
“The attempt to reframe this incident as cultural expression, gender symbolism, or political persecution is deeply concerning and fundamentally misleading,” said Tony Blignaut, the Ratepayers chairman.
“This matter is not about culture. It is not about gender. And it is not about party politics.
“ It is about conduct in a public space by a senior elected official and the standards required of those entrusted with power,” said Blignaut.
Whether the object was a real firearm or a replica “is not determinative”.
“What matters is that an object indistinguishable from a firearm was allegedly brandished and discharged in a public residential area, causing alarm and prompting a police investigation. That alone represents a serious failure of judgment,” he said.
Blignaut said invoking a sacred cultural ceremony does not exempt any individual from:
South African law, public safety obligations, or the ethical standards attached to high public office.
“Cultural practices deserve respect, but they cannot be used as a shield against accountability, nor performed in ways that endanger or unsettle the broader community.
Gender struggles
“Equally troubling is the attempt to recast legitimate public concern as: a patriarchal backlash; an attack on women’s leadership, or cynical political point-scoring.
“This response trivialises genuine struggles for gender equality and undermines the real fight against gender-based violence by conflating it with an incident that alarmed residents and required police intervention.
“Women in leadership do not need to prove authority through simulated violence or weapon symbolism. Strength in leadership is demonstrated through restraint, responsibility, and respect for the rule of law.
Finally, the suggestion that concerned residents or civil organisations are “bogus community leaders” is unacceptable. “Ratepayers and communities have a legitimate right and duty to speak out when public conduct erodes trust in governance,” added Blignaut.
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