Municipal director gunned down
Alfred Duma employee cut down in hail of bullets on school run in suspected political hit
A SENIOR Alfred Duma (Ladysmith) municipal employee was gunned down in an ambush yesterday morning.
Simingaye Oscar Hlatshwayo, 38, the executive director of infrastructure and technical services, had just dropped off his two children at a local school when he was caught in a hail of bullets.
A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said Hlatshwayo was driving his Jaguar SUV along Francis Road when he was ambushed.
“There were five cars between his and mine. As he drove past KFC just a few metres from the robots at the intersection, gunshots rang out.
“He lost control and his car did not stop at the intersection and collided with a minibus taxi.
“The gunmen were not in a car as there was no visible one which could have been used as a getaway car,” said the witness.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said Hlatshwayo was accosted by two men who fired shots at him. His vehicle collided with three vehicles including a taxi. The gunmen followed him and fired several shots, she said.
He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics and a case of murder is being investigated by Ladysmith police.
Mbele said pistols were used.
Hlatshwayo’s family said they were in no position to comment on the matter at this stage.
A municipal employee, who asked not to be named, said Hlatshwayo’s killing at this time was “bizarre”, but could have been motivated by the position he held at the municipality.
“This was obviously a hit because these people were waiting for him. Nothing was taken from him or his car, so what could have been the motive?
“He held a senior position as a director. How this could have led to his murder is not clear, but hopefully some light will be shed during the investigation.”
Two councillors approached by the Daily News for comment said Hlatshwayo’s murder was “no different” to that of Zakhele Mazibuko last year.
At the time of his death, Mazibuko, 44, from Blue Bank near Ladysmith, was the IFP’s publicity secretary in the uThukela district, and the occupational and health manager at the municipality. He was shot dead in an ambush on September 15 between Estcourt and Colenso.
Alfred Duma spokesperson Siya Maphalala said Hlatshwayo was tasked with ensuring that there was co-ordination of all technical and infrastructure items and matters related to the merger of the Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality and Indaka Municipality.
Through strategic engagements aligned to the merger, he was formerly appointed acting executive director of public works and basic services, where he had the assignment to manage the newly-established Department of Public Works and Services, from February 1, 2016 until April 30 that year.
During that phase the former Emnambithi/Ladysmith and Indaka Local Municipalities merged and formed the Alfred Duma Local Municipality.
Hlatshwayo was appointed executive director of infrastructure and technical services in August 2017, the position he held until his murder, Maphalala said.
“We appeal for calm in the municipal jurisdiction during this period and we appeal to anyone with information on the murder to submit such information to the relevant investigating authorities,” he said.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the province was concerned about the growing attacks directed at municipal officials.
“We call on the police to make urgent arrests so that we can know the motive behind this senseless murder.
“Cogta is extremely concerned about what is becoming a trend in targeting of officials within municipalities, many of whom are hard working and make many sacrifices so that their municipalities can function. Threats to their lives are a threat to the foundations of our democracy,” she said.