Muni councillor shot, manhunt launched

Limpopo Police launched a manhunt for suspects responsible for shooting and assaulting a Polokwane councillor, Tiny Chidi in Seshego Zone 4 next to Mofolo on Monday around 20:00. Chidi is recuperating in the ICU of a city hospital.
Jacques Smalle, Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader, in a media release stated that Chidi was on her way home when she was attacked in what appeared to be a sham hijacking. “She was shot in the leg and hit on her head with a firearm and was rushed to a local hospital where she received emergency treatment. She is currently in a stable condition,” Smalle said.
“The DA believes that the circumstances of the attack suggest that it could be politically motivated. Ms Chidi is currently investigating serious irregularities within Polokwane Local and Capricorn District Municipalities. Furthermore nothing was taken from her car and the perpetrators fled the scene after she refused to open her boot,” Smalle stated.
Smalle stressed that the DA condemned this criminal act in the harshest terms and called on the law enforcement authorities to investigate all possible angles and leads. “This brutal attack is reflective of South Africa’s volatile political climate, which is marked by intolerance and in the most extreme of cases political killings,” Smalle said and added that the DA wished Chidi a speedy recovery.
Limpopo Corporate Communications Head of the Police, Motlafelo Mojapelo confirmed the incident and said that the Police had launched a manhunt for the suspects. “The police received a complaint about the shooting, reacted swiftly and on arrival at the scene they were told the victim was rushed to hospital but her vehicle was found at the scene with something that looked like bullet holes,” Mojapelo said and added that the motive for the shooting was yet unknown. Anyone with information is requested to contact the nearest police or call the Crime Stop number 086 00 10111.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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