MEC warns murderers of public officials

2012-07-11 18:02

Willies Mchunu

Johannesburg - The KwaZulu-Natal government is concerned at the killings of public representatives in the province, community safety MEC Willies Mchunu said on Wednesday.

"I would like to condemn these unnecessary and barbaric killings...This is truly an unacceptable behaviour and it will not be tolerated," Mchunu said in a statement.

"This is a warning to the suspects that the police will work tirelessly to make sure that they are brought to book."

A KwaZulu-Natal induna (headman) was found murdered on Tuesday. It was the third murder of a public official in a week.

Mchunu said the induna, from Vryheid-Ngenetsheni, was found shot in the head by his family who went looking for him when he did not return after going to fetch his cows.

The National Freedom Party said it was shocked by the murder.

Shock

"We request the police to urgently arrest the criminals," NFP general secretary Nhlanhla Khubisa said.

The party called an urgent meeting with the provincial police commissioner for Thursday to discuss the killings of NFP members.
Last week, a party official was shot dead in his car while on his way to collect firewood with his two children in Nquthu, outside Dundee.

ANC regional leader Wandile Mkhize was shot dead outside his home on the South Coast last Saturday.

Mchunu said human rights violations had been an "historic problem" in the province.

"This is truly unacceptable behaviour and it will not be tolerated."

He called for calm and appealed to political party and community leaders to help the police catch criminals.

- SAPA