Ladysmith official gunned down

A SENIOR manager at Alfred Duma Municipality was gunned down in an apparent ambush yesterday morning.

Oscar Hlatshwayo, 38, who served as technical director at the Ladysmith-based municipality, was accosted by unknown gunmen.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said Hlatshwayo was driving along Francis Road when he was accosted by two armed suspects who fired shots at him, causing him to crash his vehicle into two other cars and a taxi.

“The suspects followed him and fired several shots. He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. A case of murder is being investigated by Ladysmith SAPS,” she said.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube expressed shock at the murder.

“We call on the police to speedily apprehend those behind this dastardly deed. We are concerned at the growing list of attacks directed at municipal officials. We call on the police to make urgent arrests so we can know the motive behind this senseless murder.”

IFP councillor in Alfred Duma Municipality, Abbas Warasally, said the party was saddened by the murder, adding that Hlatshwayo’s death was a big loss to the municipality.

“He left behind a wife and a very small child,” Warasally said.

He said the IFP was also concerned about the killing of officials, saying Hlatshwayo was the fifth to be murdered in the area.