An ANC councillor in Mpumalanga has been accused of punching a charity worker for asking for donations to fund a new stove which will help feed orphans and the needy.

Mashia Sithole is a member of Empumelelweni Community Development (ECD), which runs a feeding programme for orphans and the less fortunate.

When the stove the ECD used to cook with broke down, the charity worker thought it was only wise to ask for help from the community and the local municipality to replace it.

So she called a community meeting.

This allegedly angered a local ANC councillor, Timothy Lukhele, from Empumelelweni in Vosman.

Lukhele is alleged to have punched Sithole in the face for calling a meeting without his permission.

He also accused her of doing as she pleases in his ward without his knowledge.

“As ECD we sent out invitations to the ward councillor, community members and leaders informing them of the meeting we had set up with the Emalahleni local municipality speaker to seek assistance for our kitchen programme,” Sithole said.

“To our surprise when we got to the community offices on Friday, we found them locked. Yet we had already booked in advance for this meeting, as we desperately needed stoves and other accessories to keep the programme running.”

Sithole said they finally managed to get inside the offices and while they waited for the arrival of the speaker, Lukhele started shouting. He demanded that people get out and warned he was going to deal with those who do as they please without his knowledge.

“I was shocked because I had personally invited him as the councillor of the ward. The meeting was held to seek assistance for our kitchen which assists the less fortunate in our community. This was not a political gathering,” Sithole said.

She said Lukhele advanced towards her “like an enraged bull” as she tried explaining to him the purpose of the meeting and he repeatedly punched her on her face and head, leading to her bleeding heavily.

Lukhele has however denied the charges and insists that if he had assaulted Sithole then he should have been arrested.

“This is the work of my enemies who are annoyed because I have been re-elected as councillor after I lost the last election and I do not assault women,” he said.

Sithole has since opened a case of assault at Vosman police station, yet no arrest has yet been made.

Captain Lizzy Mkaudi, Vosman police spokesperson, confirmed that a case of assault was opened and they are looking for Lukhele.