Mchunu to have his say over killings

Former KwaZulu-Natal premier and African National Congress provincial chairperson Senzo Mchunu will testify next week before the Moerane Commission investigating political killings in the province.

Commission spokesperson Solo Mdledle confirmed yesterday that Mchunu would testify next Wednesday.

Mchunu will appear at a time of heightened political tension within his own party after the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday ruled that the ANC’s 2015 provincial conference results were null and void, citing several irreg- ularities.

Mchunu was the party’s provincial chairperson prior to the conference but was ousted by current incumbent Sihle Zikalala. Mchunu was fired as provincial premier a few months after the contentious elections. A clutch of ANC members who are also known Mchunu supporters took their grievances to court.

The verdict effectively nullifies the power of the leadership in the province, although the party has said it aims to appeal. The appeals process has also caused controversy, with representatives from the provincial women’s, youth and veterans’ leagues stating they viewed seeking “permission” to appeal from the national ANC leadership as more of a courtesy.

The Moerane Commission was established by premier Willies Mchunu, (no relation to Senzo) to investigate dozens of political killings in the province, the most recent being Sindiso Magaqa, a former ANC Youth League secretary-general. Magaqa was shot in July but only died last week in hospital. His funeral takes place in uMzimkhulu tomorrow.

KwaZulu-Natal has been a hotbed of political violence for decades. – ANA