Probe ANC hit list claims - DA
2010-02-07 21:25
Johannesburg - The senior ANC figure implicated in a string of murders linked to Fifa World Cup tender disputes in Mpumalanga must be forced to stand down by his party's leadership, the DA said on Sunday.
Mpumalanga's DA spokesperson Anthony Benadie said the identity of the ANC figure was known in the political circles even though an article in the Sunday Times on the matter did not reveal it.
Benadie's statement follows the publication of a feature on the Mpumalanga murders on Sunday in which a number of officials were allegedly on a hit list and have either been threatened with death, went missing or were killed in recent years allegedly over the province's tenders.
Those killed included, among others, former Nelspruit council speaker, Jimmy Mohlala, Mpumalanga's arts, culture and sport communications director Sammy Mpatlanyane, and regional secretary Themba Monareng.
The newspaper also wrote about the DA's criticism of Mpumalanga premier, David Mabuza's alleged silence on the murders.
But his spokesperson, Mabutho Sithole, responded that it was unfair to criticise Mabuza's silence on the killings.
"Our position is that any killing of an individual is wrong and very painful to the families of the deceased.
Law must take lead
"However, we believe the law enforcement agencies must take the lead in the matter, investigate and apprehend the people behind these senseless killings," Sithole was quoted saying.
Benadie said the unidentified senior ANC figure linked to the killings' failure to step aside, or his party's failure to force him to stand down until his name has been cleared, would be untenable.
Three alleged surviving victims of the unidentified senior ANC official also included a former ANC regional leader Alfred Monareng, Nelspruit mayor Lassy Chiwayo and deputy mayor Nackie Ndlovu.
The Sunday Times quoted ANC national spokesperson Jackson Mthembu saying that the ruling party was aware of the alleged hit list and allegations against the politicians allegedly involved.
Mthembu was quoted saying the party has sent a task team to investigate those responsible for the killings in Mpumalanga, but also that the ANC could not do anything until police cracked the murder cases.
- SAPA