Solly Msimanga, a man held in high regard in South Africa’s political circles has been thrust into a scandal that left the DA Gauteng leader bruised and battered.
UPDATE: Following the spread of the video footage embedded below, showing a bludgeoned Msimanga being accused of theft, the DA leader and the man involved in the scuffle have since released a public apology. In it, the pair claims the issue that caused the fisty encounter has been resolved and in fact, Msimanga is not involved in the disappearance of R1.5 million. See the apology video below:
The two gentlemen talking it out. #sollymsimanga #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/OVctr8wYi2
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) May 6, 2021
Watch: Solly Msimanga embroiled in R1.5m scandal
Video footage showing Msimanga being scolded by an unknown man, with blood oozing out of his bruised lip and left eye, was shared by SABC News reporter Samkele Maseko on social media.
In it, a battered Msimanga was seen speaking to law enforcement officials on the phone, while the man behind the camera, a disgruntled businessman according to Maseko, could be heard accusing the DA provincial leader of stealing his R1.5 million.
The man whose identity has yet to be revealed claimed self-defence, stating that Msimanga suffered blows to his face after he had allegedly attacked the businessman.
More shocking was the claim that Msimanga, a high-ranking figure of South Africa’s official opposition party, was carrying a loaded weapon in his waist when the brawl took place.
#SollyMsimanga The businessman who beat the @DAGauteng Leader alleges that Msimanga took 1.5 million from him. The Provincial Leader was also carrying a gun on him. #sabcnews
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) May 6, 2021
The two went at it with accusations of assault thrown at each other before the video ends. While details around the incident are still sketchy, it is believed that the assault took place after the businessman approached Msimanga looking for his money.
Following the incident, the DA released a statement, calling for the immediate arrest of the man responsible for socking the party’s provincial leader.
“The DA condemns this vicious and criminal attack on the Provincial Leader. Our country’s constitution asserts the rule of law as a founding provision. If there is a disagreement, whether involving money or not, South Africans should commit to working through the parameters of the law to resolve their differences. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands, and compromise the rights of others, as what occurred today. Violence is definitely not the answer.
“Since this is a personal matter, the DA will respect Mr Msimanga’s decision on how to further deal with the matter,” the party wrote.
Thus far, no charges have been laid against the alleged aggressor.
You can watch footage of the altercation below:
This is how the entire #SollyMsimanga fight [beat-up] started. The said gentleman came to demand his 1.4 million rands, now in the afternoon the two say they’ve smoked the peace pipe. Question was there really 1.4 million rands exchanged? How ? And what was it for. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/bgPyGbFtot
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) May 6, 2021
[JUST-IN] DA Gauteng Leader @SollyMsimanga was beaten up. “This is what happens to liars and thieves” #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/aMMWWqafNd
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) May 6, 2021