Three Tshwane ANC leaders gunned down months before municipal polls

A political expert has blamed the apparent assassinations of three ANC leaders in the Tshwane region on political infighting.

“Killings of political leaders are generally motivated by the fight over access to political power for personal gain,” said Tshwane University of Technology political analyst Levi Ndou.

“It is also influenced by competition among [party] members. That is why those who are killed are front runners in terms of nominations, people likely to win at the elections.

“It is unlikely that you see a person who is not a threat being killed.

“Where there is competition, there is jealousy; of course, where there is jealousy, there are conflicts which even tend to lead to death.”

He said the killings of politicians in the region was “worrisome” and a “concern”.

“What is happening now is that people are fighting over resources. Because of that, it leads to the unfortunate situation we are facing now,” said Ndou.

He said political parties must raise awareness around the killings and work with law enforcement to help solve the crimes.

“One killing is one too many,” Ndou said.

“When people fought for democracy, they wanted people to have the freedom of expression and association of own political activities. When it comes to these crimes, they defeat the reason why people fight for this democracy.

“Democracy now seems to be our enemy.”

Ndou said the investigations of such killings usually resulted in low prosecutions as those behind them worked hard to ensure that they leave no trace behind.

Between July and August, three ANC leaders in the Tshwane region were assassinated, two of them in broad daylight, only months before the municipal elections.

On August 26, Mabopane ward councillor and councillor candidate Tshepo Motaung was shot several times while travelling with family members. Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that he was at least shot 20 times with a R5 rifle gun. President Cyril Ramaphosa described his killing as “brutal”.

On August 15, two ANC members were shot while driving on Solomon Mahlangu Drive, Mamelodi. The police said they were travelling from a voting station in Nellmapius. One person died in the shooting.

On July 8, community leader and ANC member Godfrey “Brenga” Gouwe sustained seven gunshot wounds in a hail of bullets in full view of community members while travelling in his car.

Gouwe was overseeing water delivery in Zone 7, Mapiti in Ga-Rankuwa, one of the areas that were affected by widespread water outages at the time. His 18-year-old son was just a few houses away from the crime scene. After he heard gunshots, he was among the first to see the body of his father covered in blood in his car.

ANC regional spokesperson Bafuze Yabo said they were enraged by the recent killings of ward councillors and other members of the ANC in the region.

“It is unacceptable that members of the ANC have fallen victim to the barrel of the gun,” said Yabo.

“The ANC Greater Tshwane region calls for the immediate cessation of all violence within its structures.”

Last month, the ANC held a secretary forum meeting in which all secretary generals, including that of the Tshwane region, met to discuss the problem.

The killing of political leaders has in the past made headlines in KwaZulu-Natal but has now affected the Tshwane region.

Municipal elections are set for November 1.

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