Five pigs killed in midnight attack on homestead

Macekane family and community shaken following brutal killing of pigs amid alleged plot to lure local councillor candidate

4 hours ago

Muzi Zincume 3 minutes read

One of five pigs fatally stabbed during the invasion

Alleged assassins drove a herd of swine out of the pigsty on the Mdlalose homestead, and chased them with dogs before stabbing five to death at midnight on Monday.

The owner believes this was a plan orchestrated to lure him out of his house so the perpetrators could attack and kill him.

This shocking incident occurred in Macekane reserve, leaving the Mdlalose family, and the community at large, shaken.

The victim, Wonder Mdlalose, who was recently elected to contest Ward 31 on behalf of MK Party (MKP), said he received a call from his neighbour that night, who told him armed men had surrounded his home.

MKP councillor candidate Wonder Mdlalose fears for his life after what he suspects to be a botched assassination attempt

“As a community activist, I take all phone calls at any time of the day. The caller told me she had spotted unknown armed men on our property. She said some were standing around the house next to the windows, and advised me not to go out of the house. She said some of them came with dogs,” said Mdlalose.

He said he does not want to speculate at this stage as to whether or not the attack was politically motivated, as he is a community activist and had been involved in several protests.

“While I was still in my bedroom, they opened the pigsty and drove out the entire herd of swine. They chased them with dogs and stabbed them. This is clearly sabotage, and is not the first attack on my life.

“After the election of the councillor candidates, someone wrote to my party and claimed that I was not a good candidate as I had a criminal record. I was forced to get police clearance to prove there are no criminal records against my name,” he said.

He explained that the previous incident occurred in May when a group of men did the same thing. They fired shots while at his homestead and stabbed at least two pigs during the attack.

“At this stage, it is difficult to estimate the cost I have suffered,” he said.

Mdlalose added that he reported the incident at the Empangeni SAPS for investigation.

Calls for PKTT intervention

Meanwhile, IFP National Spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa recently called for the intervention of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) following the killing of two IFP ward councillor candidates in two separate incidents.

Hlengwa urged KZN police management to urgently deploy the PKTT to investigate the murders, which occurred in the space of just seven days.

“The killing of political candidates cannot be treated as ordinary criminality. These attacks strike at the heart of our constitutional democracy and threaten South Africans’ fundamental right to participate freely and safely in political life,” said Hlengwa.

He said Lucky Sokhela, the IFP Ward 8 candidate for uMshwathi Municipality, was brutally gunned down on 1 September as he arrived home.

The second murder was that of the IFP Ward 17 candidate under uMlalazi Municipality.

Khethelo Mdluli (40) was brutally shot in front of his children at his home in oPhindweni, Gingindlovu on 30 August and passed away the following day.

MKP Spokesperson for the uMhlathuze Sub-region Bhekabathembu Mvelase said the party is aware and concerned about the incident at the Mdlalose homestead.

“For now, we cannot comment further as the matter has been reported to the police. We hope they will investigate the matter thoroughly and arrest those involved. We also hope the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies will ensure his safety,” said Mvelase.

King Cetshwayo Cluster police spokesperson Siyanda Shangase could not comment on the matter.

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