Another ANC official is slain

POLITICAL killings continue unabated in KwaZulu-Natal after another ANC councillor was shot dead at his home in Gigwini.

Community Safety MEC Mxolisi Kaunda said yesterday that Mduduzi Wiseman Shibase, 39, who was also a schoolteacher, was the third ANC local leader to be murdered in the region this year.

Kaunda said his death came on the heels of that of former ward councillor Khayalihle Mngcwaba, who was shot dead at his house in Machunwini.

The ANC also lost Khaya Thobela, the Umzimkhulu council speaker and ANC deputy secretary in the Harry Gwala region, who was shot when he arrived at his home in ward 13, in Emfundweni, last month.

KwaZulu-Natal is bearing the brunt of political killings, especially this year, as the ANC gears up for its elective conference in December.

There have also been killings of members of other parties such as the IFP, SACP and National Freedom Party (NFP) in the province.

A commission of inquiry into the killing of politicians in KwaZulu-Natal, chaired by advocate Marumo Moerane, was announced by KZN Premier Willies Mchunu in March.

Vasu Gounden and Professor Cheryl Potgieter were appointed commissioners and Solomuzi Mdledle is the secretary of the commission. Lawyers Bheki Manyathi and Michelle Andile Nqandela are the evidence leaders.

The commission, based in Mayville, started its work in March.

When the commission was established, Mchunu said records showed that 12 members of the ANC, three members of the IFP, three members of the NFP and two SACP members were murdered in recent months.

Kaunda condemned the slaying of elected public representatives. “This is shocking and appears to be a concerted and systematic elimination of public officials.

“I have raised this issue with the police management that we need to conduct a proper security threat analysis on people serving in public office.

“Police have been briefed to work around the clock to ensure that those responsible for the crimes are brought to book.” – ANA