Mthethwa to meet party leaders over killings

INL SA

Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa

Police minister Nathi Mthethwa is set to meet with leaders of at least three political parties in KwaZulu-Natal over recent killings of some of their members.

Mthethwa, speaking in Durban on Sunday, said that he was in the province to discuss the killing of members of the African National Congress, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the National Freedom Party.

He said that he could not divulge details of the meetings but would hold a press conference on Tuesday after he had concluded his meetings.

Asked if he thought that the violence was between members of political parties, Mthethwa said that investigations were at an initial stage and that they mostly point to some “internal dynamics”.

That may not be the complete picture, but there is that indication, he said.

A number of ANC office bearers and NFP councillors have been killed in the past two years.

They included a former IFP municipal councillor.

Earlier this year, top leadership of then ANC, including President Zuma, attended the funeral of Wandile Mkhize on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. He had been gunned down shortly after returning from the ANC policy conference in Midrand.

Last month, a high ranking NFP party member, who was the uMzinyathi deputy mayor, turned himself in to police in connection with the killing of NFP party members in the region.

In June, a former IFP ward councillor was shot and killed in Jozini near St Lucia.

Earlier in the day Mthethwa joined a march against crime in the Mariannhill Park area by residents and later at St Wendolin's Mission sports grounds he listened to complaints of and suggestions of residents.

One woman complained that robbers had fired 21 shots at her and she had to dive for cover with her baby. She broke down in tears as she explained that she was not getting assistance from the police.

Mthethwa said that the man was known in the neighbourhood and that the man and his gang had terrorised the neighbourhood. The gangster had since been killed by police, but the woman had lamented the handling of her case, which he had tasked police to look into. Mthethwa said it was essential that residents worked with police, but that it was equally important for police to work with residents. He said where there was a functional community policing forum the fight against crime was more effective. - Sapa