Father blames politics for son’s murder

THENFP’s eThekwini councillor, Bungu Gwala, has blamed the murder of his son on political tensions between his party and the IFP in KwaMashu.

Gwala said that his son, Bhekani, was shot dead through a window while he was closing the curtains in his room on Tuesday.

He added that witnesses saw six men with guns run towards the KwaMashu hostel after the shooting.

A police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, confirmed the killing in Malandela Road, E Section, KwaMashu, but said that a motive had not been established.

The IFP’s caucus leader in eThekwini, Mdu Nkosi, sent his condolences to Gwala but cautioned the parties against blaming anyone. He said that in the past two weeks four IFP members, including a branch leader, had been shot and killed in KwaMashu.

Tolerance

“Both parties need to do something to stop this,” said Nkosi. “We need to be good leaders. It’s not right to point fingers.”

The MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, condemned the killing and said that although the motive was unknown, politics could not be ruled out.

“We are concerned with the KwaMashu area as it continues to witness unacceptably high levels of murder and other contact crimes,” said Mchunu.

“I also appeal to leaders of political parties to educate their members on the importance of political tolerance and peace.”

Meanwhile, the ANC on the South Coast is preparing to bury Dumisani Malunga and Bheki Chiliza, the chairman and branch secretary, respectively, of its Oshabeni branch. They were gunned down after an ANC meeting last week.

Earlier this week the Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Sifiso Khumalo, an ANC Youth League branch leader in Oshabeni, to 22 years in jail for Malunga’s murder.

At least 30 politically motivated killings have occurred in KZN in the past four years.