State Security Deputy Minister, Zizi Kodwa says the recent killing of three women in Inanda, north of Durban, should not deter people from participating in political activity, ahead of local government elections.
Kodwa, accompanied Police Minister Bheki Cele, visited families of the victims, recently killed during a drive-by shooting.
Five others were seriously injured.
#PoliceMinistry Security Cluster Ministers have assured the nation, that ensuring a free, fair and safe election is non-negotiable following a deadly shooting at a political gathering in Inanda. MLhttps://t.co/utW2MgPMRI pic.twitter.com/URt3q9iCGC
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) September 14, 2021
Fear has gripped Inanda township, following the shootings. Occupants of a car randomly opened fire during a community meeting to nominate a ward councillor candidate for the ANC. Three people died, while five others survived. But they remain in a critical condition in hospital.
Seventy-five-year-old Beatrice Dlamini is one of the victims, who died during the attack.
Her daughter, Nozipho Dlamini says the family in still in shock.
“It is very painful because my mother left our home going to a community meeting to be killed there. We want justice and that government help us bury her with dignity.”
Cele says the task team set up to investigate political killings in the province, will also investigate the matter. He also says people must not be afraid to come out to vote during the up-coming local government elections.
“This was a political gathering. It was on that score that the investigation has been taken by the Political Task Team that is dealing with those things in KZN. This is an attack to democracy. So, you need to intimidate (people). People must continue to practise their democratic right as these agencies will work hard so we don’t have the further loss of life, and (so that) we limit the disruptions and we chase and find those people and put them out (sic) of the system in terms of arresting them.”
Kodwa says criminal elements will not be allowed to disrupt the holding of a free and safe election.
‘The killing of these 3 women is an act of intimidation aimed at weakening our democracy’:
