NEWCASTLE – Two more ANC Ward candidates have been killed, causing panic as local government elections draw nearer.
Related article: BREAKING – ANC ward candidate gunned down in front of family
Khanyisile Sibisi, a Ladysmith ward candidate, was shot while on her way to donate goods at a Mandela Day event on Monday afternoon, July 18.
Also see: UPDATE – Thembi Mbongo’s husband relives night of her horrific murder
Earlier the same day, Bongani Skhosana, a ward councillor candidate in Umuziwabantu Municipality, was gunned down in his car while taking his children to school.
Both the incidents are allegedly politically motivated and brings the death toll to 13 ANC leaders and members, all of whom were killed in a four month period.
Two of these murders were in Newcastle alone.
Thembi Mbongo was shot in front of her husband and children at the beginning of July, and the ANC Youth League regional deputy chairman, Wandile Ngubeni, was gunned down in May.
Also related: KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC condemns murder of ward candidate
Muzi Ntshangase, ANC spokesperson for Malahleni Region, said the ANC condemned the murders.
“We insisit the police bring the perpetrators to book. We would appreciate it if police from the Provincial level could participate in the investigations, not to undermine local authorities, but rather to catch the culprits quicker,” he said.
Ntshangase emphasised it was still too early to determine whether the killings were in fact politically motivated or not.
“At the moment, we cannot say it was politically motivated, but rather prominent ANC officials were killed. We should focus on having the criminal element arrested first and once they are in custody, they can be questioned on the motives.”
The Hawks are investigating the incidents, but Hawks spokesperson, Hangwani Mulaudzi said the task team was still to make a breakthrough in its investigations.
KwaZulu-Natal violence monitor and analyst Mary de Haas concurred with Ntshangase, and said it was difficult to confirm if the murders were indeed politically motivated, as the cases were still under investigation or in court.
She added anti-corruption activities and knowledge of corruption did seem to be a motive in some of the murders, while some of the killings appeared to be linked to the competition between factions within the party.
Provincial ANC spokesperson, Mdumiseni Ntuli said the murders appeared to have been executed by well-trained operatives and the killings risked plunging the province into instability ahead of the elections.
Concerned about the slow progress of the investigations, Provincial Secretary, Super Zuma, believed the killings would not help attempts to create economic growth and sustainable development.
Anyone who can supply information on the murders is encouraged to notify the police.
