KZN ANC shocked by killings
2012-10-09 22:41
Johannesburg - The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal expressed shock on Tuesday at a spate of murders of its leaders at the hands of its members.
"This remains unacceptable and the ANC has taken a step to suspend or terminate membership of those implicated in the situation," provincial chairperson Zweli Mkhize said in a statement.
"The killings are the work of misguided criminal elements in our ranks who are driven by greed and self-interest, and their motives are limited and localised within a few plotters."
He said the killings reported so far did not follow the trend of known, open conflict among African National Congress' members.
"The ANC can ill-afford the development of the culture of the underworld, criminality and violent elimination of opponents.
"Neither can the ANC afford the association of political appointment to self-enrichment where ascendancy to office is not linked with capacity, competence and dedicated service to our people," said Mkhize.
The party had stepped up the awareness of all members and communities in general to root out the "hooligans".
Effective screening would be done to "boot out the rot".
Speaking at the funeral of Oshabeni branch chairperson Dumisani Malunga and branch secretary Bheki Chiliza, Mkhize said the ANC apologised for the misconduct of individuals.
Malunga and Chiliza were shot dead while driving in Oshabeni, near Port Shepstone on 16 September.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the murders.
Mkhize said: "The episodes do not represent a crisis, but need to be rapidly stamped out.
"They also represent a tendency to disregard law and order, and extreme greed," he said.
- SAPA
