Inkosi Sibonelo Aubrey Ngcobo of the Nyavini Traditional Council under Umzumbe Municipality has survived an assassination attempt that could have plunged his clan into a succession crisis.
Ngcobo survived the attempt on his life on recently, however, two of his family members were shot dead during the assassination attempt.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, said it is alleged that four men approached Ngcobo’s homestead under the pretence of looking for a tavern when one of the men produced a rifle and began shooting.
Ngcobo said police at Msinsini are investigating two counts of murder after a 65-year-old man and 30-year-old were fatally shot by unknown men on February 22 in the Nyavini area.
She added that the motive for the shooting is unknown.
The MEC for the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, said the disturbing news of a failed assassination attempt on Inkosi Ngcobo’s life has left the department and the traditional leadership sector in serious shock and disbelief.
“It is believed that the attack happened at the home of Inkosi, while he managed to escape unharmed, unfortunately two of his family members succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack. These continued attacks on traditional leaders invoke anger and sadness. It is shocking how people are making a mockery of such an invaluable institution of our society and are blatantly playing with the lives of our leaders. We have been continuously calling for law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of these barbaric and inhumane acts. This calls for an urgent escalation of all efforts to ensure that we put a stop to these senseless killings. Both the law-enforcement structures and our communities need to now present a formidable united front to deal with this. It is an undeniable fact that these acts are committed by members of our society and they don’t operate in a space, they are among us,” said Moloi, adding that their deepest condolences go to the family after the tragic murder of its two members.
Meanwhile, the Zulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini has called for an urgent meeting with the government and police to address the killing of traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal.
Misuzulu made the call during his address at the official opening of the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg last week.
The Zulu monarch said the meeting should be about how these structures work together in finding solutions as opposed to discussing the killings.
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