No second time lucky for ANC man

AN ANC branch secretary who was murdered on Wednesday night had narrowly survived an attempt on his life last November, when unknown assailants cornered him at his home in Empembeni in KwaZulu-Natal, according to his family.

Sifiso Mlambo, 34, who belonged to the Msizi Dube branch, was shot dead while dropping off building supplies at an acquaintance’s home in Empembeni near eSikhawini.

Celimpilo Ngobese, who witnessed Mlambo’s shooting, said she fled to a neighbour’s home as soon as she heard the first shot being fired.

She said one of her young relatives had been wounded during the incident and had been taken to a local clinic for treatment before being discharged later that night.

“I was so shocked by it all that I was scared to return home. I only made my way back home when I saw that the police had arrived.

“The incident took place before 7pm as we had left the mall at around 6.30 and he was driving slowly so that the boards in the back of his bakkie would not be damaged,” Ngobese said.

She said as they returned from the mall Mlambo had been particularly quiet and hardly responded to her as she tried to make conversation.

“I think he might have been suspecting something because he kept checking his rear-view mirror, although I don’t recall any car following us,” said Ngobese.

Mlambo’s older brother, Sphamandla, said the news of his brother’s passing had shocked the family.

“He has never spoken of anyone targeting him. He only spoke about the incident in November last year when he was shot at, but he was not hurt and he did not manage to see his assailant because it was dark. He had never mentioned any rift with anyone,” said Siphamandla.

He said his brother had been the main breadwinner at home, where he had been living with his mother.

Nondaba Zondi, the Msizi Dube branch deputy chairperson, said they did not want to speculate on the motive behind Mlambo’s murder as they did not have all the details of the shooting.

“The language being spoken within the party at the moment is that of unity and I don’t recall any difference of views that can be linked to this incident,” said Zondi.

He described Mlambo as an intellectual who had a bright future within the ANC, not just at branch and regional level but also in the province and nationally.

“We have been dealt a huge blow as the ANC in the branch, region, province and even nationally because of his contribution to the party, which he loved very much and knew everything about,” Zondi said.

Thobi Gwala, ANC Musa Dladla regional secretary, said they were appalled by the vicious murder.