Mystery vehicles linked to councillor’s shooting

A DAY before ANC councillor and former ANC Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa was shot, he complained about a BMW that tried to force him off the road, his best friend and family spokesperson Les Stuta said yesterday.

Magaqa was shot in Umzimkhulu on Thursday.

Stuta said he had visited him in hospital and he was still in a serious condition.

Sindi Msomi, ANC secretary in the party’s Harry Gwala segion, said the assailants were in a white Mercedes-Benz, but she suspected a BMW was also involved.

“The other councillors who were shot said from hospital that when they parked their car at a shop, a red BMW left immediately after their arrival.

“Soon after, a white Mercedes pulled over and gunmen fired shots at them while they were inside the car,” said Msomi.

Umzimkhulu is gripped by fear that more people could be killed.

Stuta said: “On Tuesday, Magaqa told me a BMW had tried to push him off the road by overtaking him on a bend a short distance from his home. We thought it was one of those people who drive big cars and are difficult people on the road.

“A few weeks ago, he was attending an event, and when he stopped and got out of his car, another car stopped right in front of him. When another friend stopped next to him, the other car sped off.”

Stuta said the people who shot at Magaqa and the other councillors – Nsiki Mafa and Jabu Msiya – on Friday night had followed them from his (Stuta’s) home.

“They had come to pay their respects as there had been a death in my family. His assailants had followed him from my home to Ibisi, about 25km. The car had no number plate, and that is something that is a big problem in this area… It is very concerning, especially in the current political climate,” he added.

According to Stuta, it could not be said with certainty whether the shooting was linked to the leadership battles in the region, as has been alleged. There is a poster doing the rounds calling for Magaqa to be elected to one of the top positions in the region.

“We do know that some people want him to be the deputy secretary, but those are individuals, and the ANC regions have not yet made their nominations known.”

Stuta is tipped to be regional treasurer.

Meanwhile, Zolani Mhlongo, the Speaker in the Greater Kokstad local municipality and deputy secretary of the ANC in the region, was allegedly threatened on Saturday night.