Calls to have ANC Lower South Coast Region political heavyweight Wandile Mkhize’s murder case re-visited have been made by family members, friends and fellow politicians.
This follows the arrest of a high-ranking ANC politician and three other men in connection with the murder of Sindiso Magaqa in 2017.
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Both Mkhize and Magaqa are believed to have been murdered by fellow ‘comrades’ for exposing corruption.
Mkhize died in a hail of bullets outside his Manaba home in 2012, and his death has left many questions unanswered.
What was the motive? Who are the masterminds, who according to the indictment, believed Mkhize was preventing them from winning municipal tenders?
ANC members in the region believe those responsible are within the party and they now want harsh action taken against all members believed to be connected to political murders.
The recent Moerane Commission set up to probe political killings heard how whistle-blower politicians were killed for exposing corruption, and now ANC members want answers on Mkhize’s murder.
“We believe he was murdered by his own comrades and we are trying to get that case back in court as we did with Magaqa’s murder,” said Thabiso Zulu, friend and comrade of both Magaqa and Mkhize.
Last Saturday, Harry Gwala District Municipality mayor Mluleki Ndobe – who is number three on the ANC’s province to province list for the May 8 elections – was among those arrested for Magaqa’s murder.
Mr Ndobe, highly respected in the ANC. was part of the top brass at the party’s political education school. He was recently deployed to the LSC region to induct the Regional Task Team when the region was stripped of its powers.
Photo:GCIS
He appeared in the Umzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court along with Harry Gwala municipal manager Zwelibanzi Sikhosana, businessman Mbulelo Mpofana and former South African Police Service tactical response team member Sibonelo Myeza.
They are accused of murdering Magaqa and attempting to murder councillors Nontsikelelo Mafu and Jabulile Msiya in an ambush in July 2017.
Magaqa died from his injuries two months later, while both Mafu and Msiya were wounded but survived.
Prosecutor Shohana Moodley said the four had been charged with premeditated murder, a Schedule 6 offence, which meant that they would have to show exceptional circumstances if they were to be granted bail.
They will all be remanded in custody until March 25, when they will make a bail application.
Ms Moodley said there were other suspects still at large and whose roles in the murder and attempted murders are still under investigation.
ANC regional spokesman Lindo Mzimela directed all queries to provincial spokesman Nomagugu Simelane.
Efforts to get hold of Ms Simelane were unsuccessful.
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