Klaarwater councillor to be laid to rest on Saturday
Sibusiso Khwela's family says they are shocked by the murder because it was public knowledge that he was not going to stand for re-election.
ANC councillor Sibusiso “Khekhe” Khwela’s funeral service will be on Saturday, August 15, at the Klaarwater Sports Ground, starting at 09:00, his party has announced.
‘We are in pain’
The family of the slain councillor expressed their pain over his unexpected fatal shooting last Thursday (August 6) at his office in Klaarwater (Ward 17).
Speaking on behalf of the family following the ANC eThekwini Region’s condolence visit last Friday (August 7), Khwela’s sister-in-law, Hlengiwe, said the way the councillor was killed was startling.
“During his two terms as a councillor he would walk around the ward without any security guards.
“He saw no need for having security guards. Even I would tell him that having security would bring him trouble,” said Hlengiwe Khwela.
She said the murder came as a shock, especially considering that it was publicly known that Khwela would no longer contest for reelection during the upcoming local government elections.
“We are in pain as a family. We are in pain. He leaves behind a very young wife he had been married to for two years and children,” said Hlengiwe.
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ANC shocked by the murder of its councillor
The ANC’s chair Thabani Nyawose, who is also the eThekwini Municipality’s Speaker of Council, urged anyone who may have witnessed the brazen murder to contact the police.
Municipality Thabani Nyawose and the co-ordinator of the
ANC in the eThekwini Region Thanduxolo Sabelo arriving
at the councillor’s home during a condolence visit.
Nyawose called for calm and urged all to desist from speculating on whether Khwela’s murder was a result of political infighting.
He said that as the Speaker of Council he had no knowledge of Khwela’s life being in danger.
“Right now as the leaders of the ANC, there is nothing that we know of in the branch of the Congress and all the members of the ANC in Ward 17 which could have led to disagreements resulting in someone being injured in such a manner,” said Nyawose.
He added that police investigations would reveal the perpetrator, whether they conspired with others and their motive.
Nyawose said Khwela during his 10-year tenure would be at his office every Thursday to service the community and during this time had not received a single threat or reported to work apprehended with fear that something unfortunate may befall him.
“We wish to state, comrades, that Khekhe passed on from this world having been an example of how a person who is a councillor of the ANC does their work,” said Nyawose, who thanked the late councillor and his family for allowing him to serve the party.
the family in Klaarwater.
The SAPS PKTT (Political Killings Task Team) has been urged to take over the investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. Additionally, the eThekwini Municipality has been called upon to strengthen its security measures at its offices and community service centres.
Khwela has been described as a disciplined, selfless councillor who put the interests of the community ahead of his own.
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