ANC flag. File photo.
Image by: Reuters
Image by: Reuters
Another ANC ward councillor candidate in KwaZulu-Natal was shot and killed on Monday morning while transporting children to school‚ the party in the province said.
Genevieve Quintal | Times LIVEBongani Skhosana‚ the ward candidate in ward one the Umzimwabantu municipality on the lower south coast was shot in the car in front of the children‚ provincial spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli said.
It was not clear if the killing was politically motivated.
He said this had brought the number of ANC leaders killed in the province in the last two months to 12.
Tension had escalated during the ANC’s nomination process for candidates who would be contesting the election.
There have been a number protests over unhappiness with those nominated — ANC members and supporters in some communities claimed candidates were imposed on them.
In June‚ Police Minister Nathi Nhleko established a task team to investigate killings said to be politically motivated.
ANC provincial secretary Super Zuma on Monday called on law enforcement agencies to increase visibility in known hotspots and beef up security plans for the August 3 polls.
"We are concerned that as we near local government elections we are losing our ward candidates.
"What is more saddening is this coward act of the killing of our comrades in front of children. These acts of killings do not only undermine the democratic right of voters to elect leaders of their choice‚ but such acts are reversing the gains we have made in stabilising the province of KwaZulu-Natal‚" Zuma said.
The ANC called on its members to remain calm and allow police to investigate.
The party sent its condolences to Skhosana’s family‚ friends and community.
It said it was "embarrassing" to have such a thing happen on Nelson Mandela Day‚ and used the opportunity to call on people to vote for the ANC in honour of Skhosana and other members who have been killed in the run up to the election.
-TMG Digital/BDlive
