A Tshwane City Council meeting on Thursday, 31 October 2024, descended into violence and disorder, as Democratic Alliance (DA) councillors were forcibly ejected by security personnel in a dramatic turn of events. Videos of the chaotic scenes — showing squabbling, shoving, and even accusations of abuse — quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and intense debate over the actions of both the council and the security team.
The incident occurred during a tense sitting where DA members resisted being removed after they raised challenging questions about the conduct of the coalition government. Security personnel, including alleged “bouncers,” were deployed to oust the councillors from the chamber, resulting in a violent clash. In one disturbing video, a DA councillor can be heard accusing the security officers of inappropriately touching him while trying to drag him out of the room. “This is abuse! You’re touching our private parts,” he shouts repeatedly as the situation escalates.
The footage has fuelled widespread condemnation, with many calling the removal of opposition members an attack on democratic processes.
Watch the video below:
In the aftermath of the chaos, the DA was quick to condemn what they described as an undemocratic and violent episode. Cilliers Brink, the former mayor of Tshwane and leader of the DA’s Tshwane caucus, strongly criticized the actions of the coalition government and its security enforcers. Brink, who himself was ousted as mayor in a no-confidence vote on 26 September 2024, labelled the incident an “assault on democracy.”
“Unable to win debates, this coalition turned to intimidation, weaponising municipal resources to suppress the opposition,” Brink said in a statement. “The Speaker has failed to protect councillors from documented assaults, and this latest act of violence only underscores the systemic abuse happening in this council.”
Brink further accused the coalition of orchestrating the removal of DA councillors, specifically those such as Moloto and Makgaleng, after they posed difficult questions that the governing parties found uncomfortable. According to Brink, the use of physical force to expel the councillors was not only a violation of parliamentary protocol but an alarming sign of increasing authoritarianism in the city’s political leadership.
The DA has announced its intention to take legal action against those responsible for the incident. Brink confirmed that the party would open cases against the Speaker of the Council and the security personnel involved in the removal. He also suggested that the conduct of the coalition members would be investigated, given their role in the escalation of the altercation.
“This incident is part of a troubling trend where the coalition seeks to silence opposition voices by any means necessary,” Brink stated. “We will not stand by as the right of the opposition to challenge the government is undermined through force and intimidation.”
The videos from the meeting show a distressing scene as DA councillors, visibly resistant to being removed, are dragged from their seats and forced into the corridors by security personnel. One councillor is seen being physically restrained, while others shout in protest, with some claiming that the removal was both illegal and unconstitutional.
In one particularly graphic clip, a DA councillor is heard repeatedly accusing the security officers of physical assault, shouting: “You’re touching our private parts!” as he is pulled away. The disturbing footage has provoked widespread outrage on social media, with many calling for immediate investigations and accountability from the Tshwane Council.
Public responses have ranged from condemnation of the security’s heavy-handed tactics to concern over the erosion of democratic freedoms in the city. Critics of the incident have questioned whether such actions are indicative of a wider attempt to silence opposition voices in South African politics.
The chaos in Tshwane is the latest chapter in a deepening political crisis for the city. Tensions have been running high ever since Cilliers Brink was ousted as mayor in September, a move that was seen as part of a larger battle for political control between the DA and the coalition government. With the city council now plagued by infighting and allegations of misconduct, the future of Tshwane’s local governance remains uncertain.
As the DA prepares to take legal action and calls for accountability grow louder, it remains to be seen how this episode will impact the city’s political landscape and whether it will fuel further divisions between the opposition and the ruling coalition. For now, Tshwane’s residents are left to grapple with the fallout from a day of political violence that has sent shockwaves through South African politics.
