Cele fingers politicians in KZN killings

Share the Article:

Men and women in blue are doing their best to curb political violence, these are words of police minister Bheki Cele. 

Speaking in Durban during a media briefing providing an update on the police task team’s work since July 2018 to date, he said political parties knows who the killers are. 

This after the President Cyril Ramaphosa established the inter-ministerial committee on political violence looking into a political killing in KwaZulu-Natal(KZN).        

Cele who chairs the inter-ministerial committee, said they probed 321 dockets and 66 suspects have been successfully convicted. 

He said some suspects are still are still on trial while some are on bail.  

The committee report revealed African National Congress [ANC], Inkatha Freedom Party [IFP], and the National Freedom Party [NFP] as the most affected by political killings. 

It is reported crimes are linked to intra-political conflicts with eThekwini becoming a hotspot of political killings, alongside the volatile Zululand district municipality. 

The cases range from assassinations, conspiracy to kill councillors or political figures, and attempted murders.  

“From the 52 murder cases of councillors, 31 ANC councillors were killed while 14 were from the IFP. The NFP lost 4 of its councillors while the EFF and ACDP lost 2 and one respectively, while 52 councillors have been gunned down since 2011 to date.”

According to the minister, other cases are linked to in fights within their respective organisation.

Cele said their “hard work” saw hitmen brought to book and sent to jail for a lengthy period. 

“KZN has turned into playing ground for hitmen. We are living with hitmen, some people know them. This is a great concern. Anyone who want to hire [inkabi] a hitman comes to the province.  

“When we interrogate these hitmen, they said this is the only job that enable them to put food on the table to support their family. 

“When we were conducting a roadblock, we once apprehended another suspect carrying a rifle here in KZN travelling by a bus heading to Cape Town to kill someone,” he added. 

ALSO READ | Magashule makes a clarion call during a political party launch

However, IFP KZN chairperson, Thamsanqa Ntuli said they have mixed feelings about the report. 

He said they thought after the committee was established, killings were going to decline and more suspected brought to book.  

“It is worrying that numbers are escalating instead of decreasing. In this day and age it seems if you contest to be a councillor, you are ultimately digging your own grave,” he reckons.  

ANC KZN chairperson, Bheki Mtolo said the killing are worrying and they want the law to take its course. 

“As the ANC in the province, we strongly condemn these barbaric acts of cowardice. We also urge political parties to allow other parties to canvas even in their strongholds,” he concluded.