Another NFP member killed
2012-07-18 19:09
Durban - Another NFP member has been killed in Umlazi's T-section, bringing to 21 the number of members killed since the formation of the party.
"We suspect the motive for the recent killing was political," National Freedom Party general secretary Nhlanhla Khubisa said on Wednesday.
"We have now lost 21 of our members since our party came into being."
Captain Thulani Zwane said Mthunzi Gwala, 32, was found lying on the road with four gunshot wounds to the head at Umlazi T-section on Saturday.
The circumstances surrounding his death were not clear.
Umlazi's T-section had a history of violence and NFP members had been threatened in the past, Khubisa said.
In February, violence broke out between NFP members and Inkatha Freedom Party supporters after NFP supporter Thandeka Cele was assaulted by a man for wearing trousers.
When the man was arrested, his friends organised a march in protest.
Two people died in the violence - Nicholas Ngcobo was shot dead and Margaret Mthethwa had a heart attack when she saw her neighbour's house torched.
Scores of cars and houses have reportedly been damaged in the clashes.
About 17 people were arrested for public violence, but were later released on bail of R500 each.
Call for calm
Khubisa said the party hoped police would investigate the murder of Gwala and apprehend those responsible.
"We don't want a repeat of the violence that happened in the '80s in KwaZulu-Natal," he said.
"We call on our members to exercise calm and restraint and not to take the law into their own hands."
Khubisa said a delegation from the party met provincial commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni last week to discuss the killing of its members.
Other killings in KwaZulu-Natal this year include four NFP members and a member of the African National Congress.
An NFP Induna (headman) of Ngome near Vryheid was killed last Monday.
Mpimiza Mncube, 79, was found shot in the head by his family who went looking for him when he did not return from fetching his cows last Monday. Two men have been arrested for the murder.
NFP chairpersonJacky Nhlebela was shot dead in a drive-by shooting on 6 July. He was in his car on his way to collect firewood with his two children when he was attacked by men in a red car on the Nquthu main road, a few kilometres from Dundee.
Four people were arrested in connection with this murder. The motive was not known.
ANC chief whip in the Ugu district municipality Wandile Mkhize was killed in a drive-by shooting in Manaba, Margate, on30 July. No arrests have been made.
Two NFP members were killed in an ambush and another was seriously injured in May in Msinga, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Bongani Shelembe, chairperson of the Msinga branch, and youth secretary Lungisile Zuma were shot dead as they were driving back from the party's constituency meeting.
Thulephi Mbatha was seriously injured.
- SAPA
