Assassination 'rubbish' - ANC

2005-03-27 16:14

Johannesburg - The African National Congress has described media reports that Noby Ngombane's murder was plotted by ANC comrades, as "rubbish". Ngombane was Free State premier Beatrice Marshoff's special adviser.

Speaking to Sapa on Sunday, ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said the media were "creating a decoy" in the investigation of Ngombane's death.

"These allegations are from the media who are trying to create a decoy from proper investigations that should be done.

"If they have information about Ngombane's assassination, they should forward it to the police and not suggest that people in the ANC are involved as if they know who exactly assassinated Ngombane," said Ngonyama.

Ngombane, 38, was shot dead in his driveway on Tuesday by gunmen at his home in Bloemfontein's Hillsboro suburb.

The killing of the man who was believed to be the power behind Marshoff came a day before the announcement of a provincial executive council reshuffle.

The City Press newspaper on Sunday quoted unidentified top ANC officials who said they believed Ngombane may have been killed by an anti-Marshoff faction in the party.

State witness

This group has been embroiled in bitter battles with Marshoff's supporters since the premier's appointment by President Thabo Mbeki in June last year.

Ngombane, who was to be a key state witness in a corruption case against senior government officials, is believed to have also been behind the reshuffle which would have seen top ANC officials lose their jobs.

Asked whether there was going to be an investigation within the ANC into the allegation, Ngonyama said that was a task best left to the police.

"It is up to the police to follow up these rubbish allegations. No matter what confusion has been created by some sections of the media, we are going to work very hard to uncover the people behind the assassination of Ngombane," said Ngonyama.

- SAPA