People’s Movement for Change (PMC) mayoral candidate Nhongo Solo has been left deeply traumatised after armed men held her at gunpoint in her own home, tying her up and assaulting her in a harrowing attack that has intensified concerns about the safety of political candidates ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
According to the party, three men were observed loitering around the property before forcing their way inside. The attackers, who wore balaclavas and brandished firearms, demanded Solo’s phone and banking details. They then tied up Solo and another person present in the home, subjecting them to a terrifying ordeal. The gunmen fled the scene with two cellphones, a laptop, and bank cards, leaving their victims shaken but physically unharmed beyond the trauma of the attack.
A motive has not yet been established, and police have launched an investigation. The PMC condemned the attack in the strongest terms, describing it as an assault not only on their candidate but on the democratic process itself. “We will not be intimidated, and we will not be silenced,” a party spokesperson declared.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the political community, with several parties expressing solidarity with Solo and calling for enhanced security for candidates. The run-up to the November polls has been marred by reports of intimidation and violence against political figures in various parts of the country.
For Solo, the attack is a deeply personal violation, but she remains defiant. “They may have taken my phone and my laptop, but they cannot take my voice or my commitment to the people of Ekurhuleni,” she said. As police pursue leads, the focus remains on bringing the perpetrators to justice, and ensuring that fear does not overshadow the democratic process.
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