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IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela releases lab results amid drug use claims from Floyd Shivambu
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela denies drug allegations with medical proof. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The uMkhonto weSizwe Party's national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, has released medical test results which appear to confirm he is free from drugs and alcohol. This follows public allegations by former Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu that he was a user of the substances. Shivambu recently accused Ndhlela of being "a liar, takes drugs, and is always under the influence of alcohol." In response, Ndhlela has categorically denied the claims and refuted the claims by publishing drug and alcohol screening results on his official X account. The test results, issued by certified medical facility Lancet Laboratories, confirm he tested negative for the following substances: Alcohol, Cannabis (THC), Cocaine, Amphetamines (including methamphetamine), Opiates (including heroin, codeine, morphine), Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates, Methadone, Methaqualone and Phencyclidine (PCP). However, IOL reached out to Lancet Laboratories, who said that they could neither deny nor confirm the results. Meanwhile, Shivambu says thousands of people have applied to be volunteers in his National Consultation Team (NCT). "The people come from different political parties, the ANC, DA, EFF and a substantial number from MK Party. It is very senior leaders who occupy various position in government who have pledged solidarity," he told the SABC. Shivambu claimed that Jacob Zuma offered him the leadership position in the party, but he denied. "In the initial discussions when I joined there were discussions by President Zuma that I must be the President of the party which I rejected. I said that would be inappropriate because I had tremendous respect of his leadership." However, speaking to the national broadcaster, Ndhlela accused Shivambu of being arrogant. He dismissed Shivambu's claims of R7 million being siphoned from the party monthly. "Umkhonto WeSizwe is a strong party. It is the fastest growing political party in this country. We are bound to have alien tendencies that are not cultural to the party. This is the case with what we are finding ourselves in from now. He has never raised the issue of the R7 million within the party," Ndhlela claimed. Ndhlela has also formally demanded a public apology and retraction from Shivambu within 48 hours, threatening legal action if the demand is not met. "Our client, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, has been subjected to a vicious campaign of lies and character assassination," his lawyers said in a statement. The legal team outlined specific demands, including a public retraction on Shivambu's X account, pinned for seven days, and an unconditional apology. "Social media cannot be a lawless space where individuals are slandered without consequence. We are preparing to issue summons to identified perpetrators and will seek substantial damages." The lawyers also called on Shivambu to contact eNCA to broadcast a correction, with failure to comply risking further legal action. IOL Politics Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Hans India
TN: Five arrested with 1.5 kg Methaqualone in drug bust in Chennai
Chennai: In a significant breakthrough in the fight against narcotics, Chennai's Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) on Thursday arrested five individuals and seized 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a banned psychotropic substance, in the city's Periamedu area. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising officers from the ANIU and the Periamedu Police Station launched a coordinated early-morning raid near the 'My Lady Park' locality. The operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on the distribution and sale of synthetic drugs within the city. The suspects - identified as Vijaykumar alias Manikandan (44), Kumar (36), Periyathurai (28), Rajesh (32), and Naresh (41) - were intercepted based on their suspicious movements. According to police sources, the group displayed nervous behaviour and gave conflicting responses during initial questioning, prompting officers to conduct a thorough search of their belongings. During the search, the team recovered 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a powerful sedative-hypnotic substance that is classified as a controlled drug under both national and international narcotics laws. Commonly known by its street name 'Mandrax,' Methaqualone is known to induce drowsiness and has been banned due to its high potential for abuse and addiction. The seized contraband was promptly confiscated and sent for forensic analysis. A formal case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Periamedu Police Station. Senior police officials stated that all five accused are currently under detailed interrogation to determine the origin and intended distribution network of the seized drugs. Authorities are also probing the possibility of a larger drug trafficking syndicate operating in the region, using Chennai as a transit point. The accused are expected to be produced before a magistrate court following the completion of preliminary inquiries. Further arrests and seizures are likely as the investigation progresses. This latest operation highlights the Chennai Police Department's renewed focus on targeting urban drug rackets and its commitment to curbing the spread of narcotics in the city.
