‘Blood city’ warning
‘Six murders in seven days will deter investors’
THE ongoing wave of local assassinations, both within and outside the political realm, spells economic disaster for the City of uMhlathuze.
This view was expressed on Friday by Mayor Xolani Ngwezi during his home visit to mourn the death of high profile journalist and businessman Jeffery Zikhali.
Zikhali (59), from the Ematholanjeni area in KwaDlangezwa, was attacked and killed by unknown men at the Ndabayakhe turnoff on the R102 the previous Friday night.
His lifeless body was found lying on the dusty road and his torched car was later recovered along the old Mtubatuba road outside Empangeni.
The family said the former SABC 1 sports anchor was returning home from Umsinga, where he had been doing business.
The mayor’s reaction was one of frustration, concern and anger.
“No one will invest money in a town where people are killed like flies. Six people were killed in the last seven days; all of them were shot and murdered,” said Ngwezi.
The mayor told the family that it was painful to lose talented people who were expected to contribute to the local economy.
“I recently contacted the district police commissioner, Major General Ngubane as I believe that, although they have worked hard to reduce murder incidents, it seems as if it’s getting out of hand.
“They must do something to prevent these hits before they take place, by using their crime intelligence unit,” explained Ngwezi.
The deceased’s brother, Thamsanqa Zikhali said Jeffrey was a businessman and was not living at home full-time.
He said, on the day of the incident, while returning from uMsinga, Zikhali had alerted people via Facebook about a tree that had fallen across the road in the Stanger area.
“While we were waiting for him, we received a call to say he had been found lying on the road and his car was missing,” said Thamsanqa.
He further explained that they had received information from a motorist who was driving from Ndabayakhe to Empangeni that evening, saying Jeffery had been seen arguing with another motorist at the place where his body was found.
“According to this information, two men jumped out of their car and went straight to the driver’s side of Jeffrey’s vehicle,” said Thamsanqa.
“This motorist told us he did not stop, but on his return trip he spotted his body lying in the same spot, but his car was no longer there.
“This tragedy shocked us, but we cannot challenge God's plan about what transpired. We leave all this in the hands of the Almighty.
“But we are not happy about the country's Constitution, which has caused a lot of pain to people who have lost their loved ones at the hands of killers.
“The right to life of the deceased is ignored, but those who orchestrate a plot to kill others, and the rights of murderers, are considered.
“The fact that his car was burnt shows his death was planned,” he said.
Jeffrey Zikhali was laid to rest on Saturday.
No one will invest money in a town where people are killed like flies