Fears of political bloodbath
AS PARTIES gear up for the 2024 elections, Kwazulu-natal could be in for another political bloodbath after the speaker of the Amajuba District Municipality, Reginald Ndima, 58, was gunned down yesterday near his home in Newcastle.
Ndima assumed the role as speaker of the municipality on November 30 during the first municipal council meeting, shortly after the 2021 local government elections.
His death was confirmed by Amajuba District Municipality’s spokesperson, Sbonelo Cebekhulu, who said the details surrounding the killing remained “very sketchy”.
“The leadership of the Amajuba District Municipality is saddened by the news of the untimely death of the speaker of Amajuba District Municipality, Councillor RB Ndima. It is alleged that he was gunned down in the early hours of this (yesterday) morning at his residence in Newcastle.
“Ndima is one of the longest-serving councillors and will be remembered for his endless efforts and selflessness in enhancing the lives of the people of Amajuba district,” Cebekhulu said yesterday.
Mayor of Amajuba district Vuselwa Bam said: “My deepest sympathies go out to the family of the deceased, people of Amajuba district, the Amajuba District Municipality, and all those who were close to Ndima. May God give you the comfort and peace that you seek, and may the soul of your loved one rest in peace.”
The IFP said it was saddened by the loss of Ndima. It called for immediate action by the SAPS, including the activation of the 72-hour swift response.
IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the party was deeply concerned about the continued killing of public representatives.
“Ndima was a humble and responsible servant of the people who diligently dedicated his life to public service.
“His untimely death is a loss for the people he served with integrity for 15 years as a councillor.
“The IFP is deeply shocked by this news and extremely worried about the continued killing of public representatives, especially councillors, without justice ever being served.
“The absence of successful investigations and prosecutions in the spate of the killings of councillors in Kwazulu-natal emboldens the criminal syndicates to continue on their killing spree with impunity,” Hlengwa said.
But the Ministry of Police said it had full confidence in its task team designated to investigate political killings in the province. The team was created after a spate of political killings in KZN up to 2018.
“The mandate of this committee was quite clear from the outset. It was tasked with ensuring that the perpetrators of politically related crimes were brought to book. This resulted in an integrated multidisciplinary task team consisting of the police and the NPA, supported by the State Security Agency and Correctional Services, being established.
“It’s also referred to as the KZN political task team, which has heeded and continues to heed the call not to allow KZN to be a killing field.
“Since 2018, the task team has investigated 246 dockets in which over 250 arrests have been made in politically related cases.
“At last count, the team obtained a 66% detection rate, a 47% court rate, and an 83% conviction rate. The ministry has full confidence in this team and its capabilities. Its recent record shows it’s more than up to the task of containing politically related crimes,” Police Minister General Bheki Cele said.
Ndima’s death comes just a week after a newly elected ANC councillor, Minenhle Mkhize, was shot dead outside his home last Saturday.
Mkhize was elected as councillor of Ward 103 in ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which encompasses the Assagay, Botha’s Hill and Kwasondela areas.
Police reports at the time indicated that the 39-year-old had arrived home from a football match when he was shot in his car near Mthombomuhle Primary School in Cliffdale, Hammarsdale.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said seven cartridges had been found at the crime scene.
Following the death of Mkhize, ethekwini municipality’s speaker Thabani Nyawose, said being a councillor was now becoming a dangerous job, as they were constantly under siege.