Politician murdered

The National Freedom Party (NFP) yesterday reiterated its call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency in KwaZulu-Natal before the elections next year – following the murder of yet another politician in the province.

An Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) local government councillor was killed in an apparent ambush between Estcourt and Colenso on Saturday night.

Confirming the incident via Twitter yesterday, IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said Zakhele Mazibuko was killed “in an ambush ... shortly after leaving a party meeting”. Hlengwa said Mazibuko was IFP Uthukela district publicity secretary.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele confirmed the incident .

Killings of politicians in the province had become “the order of the day”, NFP KZN chairperson Vikizitha Mlotshwa said. The NFP continued to urge Ramaphosa to heed the party’s call for an immediate state of emergency to be declared in KZN, he said.

The murder comes just days before the final report of the Moerane Commission of Inquiry into political killings in the province is to be presented at the legislature on Thursday. –