Home

Political killings in KZN condemned, conferences to continue

Reading Time: 4 minutes

ANC NEC member Edna Molewa says party conferences in KwaZulu-Natal including regional and provincial conferences will continue as planned. She was speaking on the side line at eMalahleni regional conference underway at Newcastle in the midlands.

This is despite growing calls by some party members to shelve conference at least after next year’s general election citing recent killings and alleged irregularities among the reasons.

A local ANC leader in the Pietermaritzburg area was shot dead last night, as well as an IFP leader in the Ulundi area. Molewa says the party is disturbed by the recent killings, but they think putting conferences on hold might exacerbate tension among party members…

“We should actually be able to isolate those areas that have challenges so that we attend in building the structures and unite the people in those particular branches. Because there are challenges that range from dual branches where some are saying there is gate-keeping.

Yes there is a death case and it is still fresh we are all attending that. We really thinking that if we really look at the situation right now and say let’s not hold or continue with everything the situation may go on and on. But it is important to stabilise the branches. It is important that those branches that once for all be corrected; and we think that once we have corrected the situation then things will be calm. But leaving and hoping that things will sort themselves out is not quite something that we think is actually wise to get along,” Molewa explained.

Political leaders have spoken out about the political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.

On Friday night, the ANC’s convenor of branches in the Moses Mabhida region in Pietermaritzburg, Musawenkosi Maqata Mchunu, was gunned down at his home in Pietermaritzburg.

The 42-year-old Maqatha Mchunu is the latest victim of what appears to be politically-motivated killings in the province.

A few days ago, he was part of a group of ANC members who had called for the postponement of the provincial elective conference. They made claims of a hit-list bearing their names, including that of Mchunu’s.

On Friday, unknown men lay in wait and opened fire on him as he entered his home. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died on his way to the hospital.

His brother Mandla Zuma wants those responsible to be held accountable.

“What we want as the family is that police must work tirelessly to bring the killers to book. We have lost many political leaders in similar incidents and no one is held accountable.”

Party leaders visited the family on Saturday.

Earlier the Provincial task Team co-ordinator Sihle Zikalala was refused entry into the home by angry community members. Their actions were however condemned by party leaders.

National Executive Committee (NEC) member Zweli Mkhize called on the leadership of the party to act decisively.

“We need to call on the leadership to quickly come and review the situation in particular, whether the general branch meetings that are taking place now, are not going to be impacted by this kind of situation.”

 

A few weeks ago, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) gave the green light for the province to hold its provincial elective conference.

The recent killings have again raised questions about the party’s readiness to convene conferences.

Sthembiso Mshengu, member of the ANC, says rushing will lead to more burials.

“This thing of rushing to conferences and leave issues unattended with a hope that with the passage of time that issues will resolve themselves. It is not going to work, instead each and every weekend, we are going to bury people.”

Mchunu leaves behind two wives and six children.

Meanwhile police are also investigating the killing of IFP councillor Sibuyiselo Dlamini who was allegedly ambushed while travelling on the R66 between uLundi and Nongoma. (still photo)

Dlamini sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the scene.

He was a PR Councillor in the Zululand District Municipality, an Exco Member and also the Chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade in Zululand.

These killings come days after ANC activist Sifiso Cele was murdered on the south coast.

Author

MOST READ