Bitou Municipality Deputy Mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi to Face Charges Over Firearm Incident

• The Deputy Mayor of Bitou Municipality, Nokuzola Kolwapi, will face charges after allegedly firing a firearm in public last year
• Police completed their investigation and sent the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions in January 2026
• Reports say she will be charged under the Environmental Conservation Act

WESTERN CAPE —The Deputy Mayor of Bitou Municipality, Nokuzola Kolwapi, is set to face charges following an incident in which she was allegedly seen discharging a firearm in public in December 2025.

The incident, during her son's homecoming ceremony ng, was captured on ffootage and went viral on social media. Political parties and civic society organisations called for her dismissal from the municipality and a thorough investigation into the incident.

NPA moves to charge Kolwapi

According to reports, SABCNews has been in contact with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Plettenberg Bay resident Welcome Tshala, who was one of the complainants. Tshala confirmed that Kolwapi will be charged for contravening the Environmental Conservation Act. Unconfirmed reports also indicated that NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed earlier this week that a decision had been made, but said further details could not be shared as they must be communicated directly to the parties involved.

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Social media reacts to the news

@MoshabaneMafir2 said:

"While we appreciate it, why did it have to take so long?"

@Blayamii said:

"People need to be educated; you can’t just fire a gun like that."

@Pole1803 said:

"Good. I was starting to think they are letting her get away with it because she doesn't have a big name like Malema."

@Gadfly342043 said:

"Where conduct is public and evidence apparent, inaction would signal tolerance rather than enforcement."

@PedroPeculiar said:

"The gun is innocent."

What happened during the incident?

Nokuzola Kolwapi went viral when someone captured a video of her discharging a firearm in public during a family gathering in Kwanokuthula on Sunday, 21 December 2025. Reports said that it was during her son's 'uMgidi' ceremony. After the video went viral, parties such as the ANC and organisations such as the Afriforum heavily criticised her actions, calling them unbecoming of a public person.

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Police concluded their investigation in mid-January and handed the docket to the NPA. The case was then sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Cape Town for a decision on prosecution.

Deputy Mayor denies firing the gun

Following the criticism levelled at her after the video surfaced online, Kolwapi defended herself, saying that the gun was a toy. Her statement comes after Kwanokuthula Police confirmed that a case of discharging a firearm was opened. In a statement, she said it was a 'replica' toy that she fired in celebration during her son's 'uluko'. She further said that the incident was being used to score political points in the community.

Previously, Briefly News reported that EFF leader Julius Malema was charged and convicted for firing a gun during an EFF rally in East London. During his pre-sentencing trial, his team called for leniency, along with a social worker who said Malema does not qualify to be sentenced to jail.

Source: Briefly News