Durban - The chief suspect in the killing of an ANC leader, gunned down in front of his family in Ulundi last year, has been arrested and was expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The ANC’s former branch chairman in Ulundi, Makhosonke Msibi, was shot dead in his kitchen in front of his 12-year-old son in August.
The police appointed a provincial task team to investigate the murder. The ANC and its youth wing described the killings as “barbaric” and “politically motivated” at the time.
The ANC’s provincial secretary, Sihle Zikalala, said he was disturbed that the suspect was a “staunch member” of the IFP.
“The arrest… is a big step closer to getting to the truth behind our comrade’s killing. Comrade Msibi was one of the hard-working leaders of our organisation and his killing led many of us into believing that it was a carefully crafted plan of destabilising the ANC in Ulundi where he had brought scores of people into our glorious movement.
“We are also very disturbed to receive the news that the accused is a staunch member of the IFP in Ulundi,” he said.
Zikalala said the ANC wanted to see all those responsible for the killing “rot in jail”.
IFP spokesman Joshua Mazibuka said he was not aware of the suspect and would have to wait until he appeared in court before commenting.
“Until he appears in court we cannot be sure who he is. We will wait for the case to run its course, but if a person has committed a crime, regardless if they are an IFP member or not, they must be arrested,” he said.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, said the case had been tough to crack and praised the provincial task team for its expertise.
She said the suspect had been arrested on Tuesday. Provincial NPA spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the suspect would appear in court on Friday.
Daily News