Mpumalanga councillor, ward committee member killed in eMbalenhle

eMbalenhle Ward 4 councillor Simphiwe Sindelo (40) and ward committee member FA Nogwanya (61) died in hospital after being shot several times by unknown suspects on Sunday.

They were visiting a friend in Ext 25 when they were confronted and chased by unknown suspects who opened fire on them.

According to the police, one of the victims fired shots at his attackers.

Sindelo was shot six times in his stomach, while Nogwanya was shot in the head near his left eye. The gunmen stole Sindelo’s 9mm pistol.

The eMbalenhle SAPS are investigating a case of murder and armed robbery of a firearm but have arrested no one as yet.

This attack was not the first on Sindelo.

Last year, gunmen opened fire on his house in Ext 25. The police report then indicated that a gang of five men fired more than 20 shots at his house and vehicle.

Sindelo was considered lucky to sustain no injuries. He was ambushed when he arrived home from a school meeting.

Sindelo parked his vehicle and went into his house seconds before about 10 bullets were fired at the driver’s seat of his car.

The gunmen opened fire on the house and reportedly fired shots at the kitchen door. After the first incident, Govan Mbeki Municipality speaker Fikile Magagamela condemned the assassination attempt.

Magagamela at the time said she failed to understand if the attack was politically motivated or personal.

She added that during a council meeting in September 2022, they agreed that Sindelo and his family needed protection.

At the time, Magagamela told Ridge Times the municipality would provide Sindelo and his family with security personnel at his home.