Durban - One of former eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo’s sons is lucky to be alive after dodging a bullet at a tavern in Inchanga. But SACP leader Nontsikelelo Blose was not so lucky.
Wandile Nxumalo was with Blose last Sunday when a shot was fired in their direction. He told the Sunday Tribune the bullet missed him but struck Blose.
She later died in hospital.
Shaken, Nxumalo said: “A group of guys we know were causing chaos and threatening to shoot everyone. One of the guys started cocking his gun while he was talking and looking at me.
“I remained calm and Nontsikelelo screamed and shouted my name because she saw that guy wanted to shoot us. I turned and the bullet missed me… She fell down.”
At the time Nxumalo was with his two brothers and Blose’s daughter, Nomfundo.
“It seems like the men had a motive. They were drunk and reckless, which is why I remained calm when he was cocking his gun. Nontsikelelo wanted me to be protected and screamed. I could say she took a bullet for me because had she not screamed, the bullet would have hit me.
“I was shocked and confused. We ran away but these guys followed and said they wanted the Nxumalo boys. It’s so sad because we were attacked by people we know. I am really scared and angry.”
The shooting is believed to have been the result of tension between the SACP and the ANC that started in the run-up to the recent local government election.
The organisations fought apartheid together and, with Cosatu, form a tripartite alliance that governs South Africa.
In the months leading up to the election, Sihle Zikalala defeated Senzo Mchunu as ANC chairman in KwaZulu-Natal. Zikalala’s ally, Zandile Gumede, unseated James Nxumalo as chairman of the eThekwini region, the party’s biggest zone in the country.
Nxumalo is also the current SACP chairman in KZN.
In January, with tension running high, Phillip Dlamini and Bongani Hlatshwayo were shot during an SACP community meeting in Inchanga. Five men were arrested and appeared in the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court. They were released on bail.
Nxumalo was scheduled to be a part of that meeting but had been delayed.
Wandile Nxumalo told the Sunday Tribune it was time for unity.
“Things are not good now. You never know if you might be the next target. Everyone is scared. I am even more fearful because I was there and saw the culprits. I wish for justice so that Nontsikelelo can rest in peace.
“Police are visible in our area, but they are only guarding the culprits, people who are known to be causing violence. Everyone in our area deserves to be protected by the state,” said Nxumalo.
Blose’s daughter, Nomfundo, 22, said they were celebrating the victory of an independent candidate in their ward when the shooting happened.
Revenge
Petros Malombo Nxumalo, nephew of James Nxumalo, defeated the ANC candidate in the elections.
“On the day, we were at home with other SACP members celebrating winning the ward. My mother was in a good mood, she was cracking jokes and laughing out loud. She had ANC and SACP flags hanging inside and outside the house.”
After Blose was shot, ANC member Xolani Ngcobo was shot then stoned to death in front of his wife and children. Some in the community think it was a revenge attack.
For most of the week the area remained tense with the police maintaining a high visibility.
On Thursday, a joint memorial service scheduled for both families was postponed as issues remained unresolved.
Two men have appeared in the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of Blose.
Wandile Nxumalo, Nontsikelelo and Nomfundo Blose seen in a selfie taken about an hour before the shooting.
Sunday Tribune