Delani Louis Thabethe, the Mayor of the Lekwa Municipality, was the victim of an attack last week Wednesday at about 19:30.

A case of attempted murder has been opened at Standerton Police Station and is under investigation.

The spokesperson of Standerton SAPS, Captain Gibi Mtsweni, says the police report indicates the mayor was at home in Kosmospark, and then got into his vehicle to go and buy airtime.

Thabethe was talking on his cellphone when noticing two men passing by.

He activated his remote control in the driveway to open the main gate and noticed the suspects approaching his vehicle.

One man pulled out a firearm. The mayor got out of his vehicle and ran towards the back of his house. He took cover and heard three shots being fired.

After this, it went quiet. He returned to his vehicle to fetch his cellphone to contact Kasselman Security Services (KSS) and the police.

Sergeant TE Hadebe was on the scene and notified the necessary role players. The police also sent Constable ZD Ngwenya and Warrant Officer SMG Nkosi to the scene.

Altogether three cartridges and one projectile were recovered. Thabethe’s vehicle was damaged by a gunshot through the windscreen and two shots on the left side of the front bumper.

According to Mtsweni, the mayor suspects nobody at this stage, but he was able to guess their ages as in the late 20s. The mayor also does not know the motive for the attack.

Captain Shaun Bouwer attended to the scene on request of the station commander, Colonel Josias Africa.

KSS posted a guard at his house and the relief commander instructed that the area be patrolled with stop-and-search operations.

The Standerton Advertiser spoke to the mayor on Thursday, enquiring about his well-being.

“It goes beyond the fact that I am a politician. I am only human and this has affected the people near me,” Thabethe said.

Police on local, district, provincial and national levels have been deployed in the investigation. He received calls from several mayors and has decided to take three days leave.

He still has to make a decision about bodyguards.

“I don’t like the idea, but circumstances compelled me to agree to it. Working in the municipality involves trying to solve complex issues. It takes its toll.”

A team of investigators has been assembled under the leadership of the provincial commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela.

Police call on anyone with information that may assist in this investigation to call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or send information via the MySAPS app.

All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

“I don’t wish it on anybody,” Thabethe concluded.

The Lekwa Community Forum (LCF) has condemned any form of violence in any part of the country, following the shooting.

The LCF sent a press statement to the community and all media houses on May 18.

The organisation encouraged law enforcement agencies to do the necessary for the perpetrators to have their just desert.