Assassination attempt on speaker of uMzimkhulu Municipality condemned

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube speaking at the Institute for Municipal Finance Officials conference attended by Mayors and Municipal Finance officials from across the country’s 257 municipalities at the Durban ICC on 04.10.16

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has condemned last night’s assassination attempt on uMzimkhulu Council’s Speaker, Cllr Khaya Thobela, who was shot at in his home. He was apparently shot a couple of times in the upper body and remains in a critical condition.

Dube-Ncube has expressed shock at this assassination attempt on the Speaker and said that the ongoing spate of violence directed at public representatives, traditional leaders and municipal officials in the sphere of local government must stop.

“We are dismayed at the news of an attempt on the life of yet another councillor in the province. It pains me to even try and understand what could cause people to embark on such a senseless deed against a representative of our people. This is indeed shocking. We are finding this difficult to comprehend,” said Dube-Ncube.

“Violence against councillors is becoming a disturbing trend which requires urgent attention. We call on all our people to be in the forefront of protecting our councillors. Violence is deplorable and must be universally condemned. The Speaker has held a record for good administration and is an example to many others,” said Dube-Ncube.

Dube-Ncube has expressed a hope that the law will now take its course and that the perpetrators of this attempted murder – whoever they are – will be apprehended soon by the law enforcement agencies to be brought to justice.

Dube-Ncube has also assured the family, constituency and political party of Speaker that he remains in her thoughts and prayers and she has wished him a speedy recovery.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Msawakhe Mayisela, 060 966 4220.