KwaMashu hostel on edge after IFP official, supporter shot dead
by Nce Mkhize,
2014-01-29 15:38:00.0
THE volatile KwaMashu hostel, north of Durban, is again on a knife-edge after an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) official and one of the party’s supporters were shot and killed on Monday night.
Vika Ngcobo, an IFP block chairman, and Alpheus Magwaza were shot as they walked to a nearby shop. They are the latest victims of conflict in the hostel between supporters of the IFP and those of the rival National Freedom Party (NFP) that has claimed dozens of lives in the past two years.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Capt Thulani Zwane confirmed on Wednesday that two cases of murder had been opened.
"At this stage it is not clear whether this attack was purely criminal or political," he said. "But we are investigating all possible leads and we hope that the culprits will be apprehended very soon."
Mdu Nkosi, IFP leader in the eThekwini region, said on Tuesday he had no doubt that the killings were political.
"It is becoming common that when there are either by-elections or any kind of campaigns in the hostel, our leaders and supporters are killed," he said. "We are appealing to the government and the police to do everything in their power to ensure that those responsible are brought to book."
NFP general secretary Nhlanhla Khubisa said the party was also concerned about rising tension in the KwaMashu hostel.
"We don’t know whether this attack was political," he said. "However, we are just as worried that people continue to die in the hostel. In the past police had promised that they will sweep the area and take away all the illegal weapons and we believed them."
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for safety and community liaison Willies Mchunu urged political parties and communities to work with the police to ensure that the upcoming national general election was peaceful, free and fair.
He said some pockets of the province — including KwaMashu — were still plagued by violence.
"Mind you, political violence was not fought through stones but through guns, and the role of the police was crucial in eradicating violence and collecting those firearms," said Mr Mchunu.
Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission said a by-election for KwaMashu hostel (ward 39) would take place on April 2. This by-election became necessary as the IFP fired its councillor, Sakhile Ngcamu, after it emerged he was facing serious charges, including murder and possession of illegal firearms.
Mr Ngcamu was elected in December 2011 after his predecessor, Themba Xulu, was abducted from his home and killed by unknown men who posed as police officers.
THE volatile KwaMashu hostel, north of Durban, is again on a knife-edge after an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) official and one of the party’s supporters were shot and killed on Monday night.
Vika Ngcobo, an IFP block chairman, and Alpheus Magwaza were shot as they walked to a nearby shop. They are the latest victims of conflict in the hostel between supporters of the IFP and those of the rival National Freedom Party (NFP) that has claimed dozens of lives in the past two years.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Capt Thulani Zwane confirmed on Wednesday that two cases of murder had been opened.
"At this stage it is not clear whether this attack was purely criminal or political," he said. "But we are investigating all possible leads and we hope that the culprits will be apprehended very soon."
Mdu Nkosi, IFP leader in the eThekwini region, said on Tuesday he had no doubt that the killings were political.
"It is becoming common that when there are either by-elections or any kind of campaigns in the hostel, our leaders and supporters are killed," he said. "We are appealing to the government and the police to do everything in their power to ensure that those responsible are brought to book."
NFP general secretary Nhlanhla Khubisa said the party was also concerned about rising tension in the KwaMashu hostel.
"We don’t know whether this attack was political," he said. "However, we are just as worried that people continue to die in the hostel. In the past police had promised that they will sweep the area and take away all the illegal weapons and we believed them."
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for safety and community liaison Willies Mchunu urged political parties and communities to work with the police to ensure that the upcoming national general election was peaceful, free and fair.
He said some pockets of the province — including KwaMashu — were still plagued by violence.
"Mind you, political violence was not fought through stones but through guns, and the role of the police was crucial in eradicating violence and collecting those firearms," said Mr Mchunu.
Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission said a by-election for KwaMashu hostel (ward 39) would take place on April 2. This by-election became necessary as the IFP fired its councillor, Sakhile Ngcamu, after it emerged he was facing serious charges, including murder and possession of illegal firearms.
Mr Ngcamu was elected in December 2011 after his predecessor, Themba Xulu, was abducted from his home and killed by unknown men who posed as police officers.
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