ANC demands action on Ngombane

2005-03-29 17:17

Bloemfontein - The murder of a Free State government official and member of the African National Congress should be solved as a matter of urgency, said the party on Tuesday.

Free State ANC chairperson Ace Mageshule said: "Anybody who has information about the crime should tell the investigating agencies."

Noby Ngombane, an official in Premier Beatrice Marshoff's office, was shot dead at his home in Bloemfontein last week.

The Free State ANC's provincial working committee met on Tuesday in Bloemfontein, joined by some national executive committee members, including Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad.

Mageshule said: "The callous and brutal murder of our respected comrade Noby Ngombane was discussed (at the meeting)."

Asked about a statement by Ngombane's wife, Nokwanda, at the funeral on Monday that the killing was political, Mageshule said the ANC would never allow "members that are murderers".

Premier denies reshuffle rumour

He said the ANC had not made contact with Ngombane's family yet.

"It's a time of respect towards the family."

Marshoff, also at the meeting, said the matter was in the hands of the police.

"We also ask that Nokwanda Ngombane, like everyone else, do the same so that the investigation could go on and the matter solved... so that we can close the book on the matter as soon as possible," said Marshoff.

Reports that Marshoff, to whom Ngombane was an adviser, was about to announce a reshuffle of the province's executive committee were denied.

These had speculated that Ngombane was behind the reshuffle, which would have resulted in ANC officials losing their jobs.

Marshoff said: "There was no planned announcement last week on Wednesday about a cabinet reshuffle."

She said a step such as a cabinet reshuffle would have happened with the full input and knowledge of the provincial ANC.

"If the time comes for something like that, you will know," said Marshoff.

- SAPA