ANC councillor arrested for attempted murder

AN ETHEKWINI ward councillor accused of shooting a man and then offering his family R25 000 in exchange for their silence was arrested yesterday.

The councillor, who cannot be named because he has yet to appear in court, has been accused of shooting the man on June 4.

It is alleged that the councillor stopped the man and his friend and searched them for weapons. The councillor then reportedly assaulted the pair and fired three shots, with one of the shots hitting the man.

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed that police were investigating a case of attempted murder.

By yesterday afternoon the councillor had been arrested and detained at the Kwandengezi police station.

Zwakele Mncwango, DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal, said they were calling on police to continue investigating the matter. “The fact that the councillor is an ANC councillor should not deter the police from doing their job. The community no longer feels safe when having to fear that a councillor, who is in the position to protect and assist the residents, would go so far as to shoot a young man for no reason.

“Community leaders are voted for by the residents, who entrust them with the power to ensure service delivery and act in their best interests,” he said.

Zinhle Cele, ANC regional spokesperson, lambasted the DA for what she called “politicking with something that had nothing to do with them”.

Speaking to the Daily News, Cele said it was disappointing that the opposition was taking such a serious case and making it about politics.

She added that she could not comment on behalf of the party at this stage as the matter was now in the hands of police.