The ANC in KZN has called for the deployment of police experts to investigate murders and other incidents of political violence in Nongoma and surrounding areas.

Last month, NFP Nongoma Municipality councillor Ntombenhle Mchunu was shot dead at her home in Nongoma.

A few days ago, unknown people fired shots at the home of ANC Mzala Nxumalo regional secretary Ntokozo Nxumalo.

ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, who describes the shooting at the Nxumalo home as an act of intimidation, says the party is of the view that ‘warmongers’ have launched a campaign to plunge Nongoma and surrounding areas into violence.

Call for arrests

“Our message to the chief warmongers is that the majority of South Africans and the people of KwaZulu-Natal will crush all attempts aimed at taking us back to the era of black-on-black violence.”

It is only through the arrest of those behind the current violence, Mtolo says, that peace can return to the area.

“As the ANC, we are confident that KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will assign experts in intelligence gathering to look into both matters.

“A team of ballistic experts must also be deployed to ensure the gathering of evidence and spot examinations of cartridges found on two crime scenes,” he urges.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda says police had registered a case of malicious damage to property following the shooting at Nxumalo’s residence.

ANC vs IFP

The shootings in Nongoma and surrounding areas came weeks after the removal of IFP office-bearers, including former IFP mayor Albert Mncwango, through a vote of no confidence brought by ANC and NFP councillors.

While the ANC has blamed IFP members for the current violence, the IFP have dismissed the accusations against members of the party.

IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa says it was irresponsible for any political party to make ‘unfounded claims’.

The public, Hlengwa says, should wait for police to conclude their investigations before reaching any conclusion.

“It’s in the interests of justice, democracy and peace for the police to quickly resolve their investigation.”