Abducted IFP councillor's body found
2012-10-07 19:15
Durban - The body of an Inkatha Freedom Party councillor, who was abducted, has been found in a sugar cane field on the outskirts of Durban, the IFP said on Sunday.
IFP spokesperson Albert Mncwango said Themba Xulu's body was found in an area known as eTafulene, near Durban.
The police's Jay Naicker confirmed the discovery of the body.
He said people collecting mushrooms had discovered the body and alerted police.
Naicker, speaking from the crime scene, said Xulu sustained multiple gunshot wounds and his body appeared to show early signs of decomposition.
While this indicated that Xulu had already been killed on Friday night, a post mortem would confirm this fact.
Xulu was abducted from his home in KwaMashu's A-Section on Friday, allegedly by five men posing as policemen.
Mncwango said party leaders were at the scene and had told him that it was Xulu. He had been shot.
He appealed for calm and said that he and the IFP leadership were due to hold a meeting with the police at KwaMashu police station.
"We need to know who committed this heinous crime."
On Saturday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa spoke to residents at a mass meeting of about 2 000 people in KwaMashu's A-Section, which has numerous hostels and shacks.
Shortly after he left the meeting, a woman was wounded in the face while an IFP supporter was shot dead near Tembalihle station.
Tensions in the area have been high ever since Xulu was arrested and charged for the attempted murder of a National Freedom Party (NFP) member.
The NFP was formed prior to the 2011 local government elections when the former IFP national chair Zanele Magwaba-Msibi left the party.
Naicker said the provincial commissioner had requested an extra 110 police officers be deployed to the hostel areas of KwaMashu's A-Section as political party leaders attempted to diffuse he situation.
- SAPA
