Durban - A terrified mother pushed her toddler to the ground as two gunmen stormed an ANC meeting at a Chatsworth primary school during an apparent hit on party leaders in the area.
ANC councillor Mthembeni Shezi, 38, was gunned down during the attack on Wednesday night and two others were critically wounded.
Shezi, Ward 72 (Risecliffe and Demat in Chatsworth) councillor, who was also ANC branch chairman for Welbedacht, died on Thursday at RK Khan Hospital.
Branch deputy chairman Sbu Mpanza and ward committee member Bulelani Mjoli, who were critically wounded, are in hospital fighting for their lives.
There have been a number of political murders in KwaZulu-Natal recently.
A witness, who does not wish to be named for fear of her safety, told The Mercury outside the bullet-riddled classroom and corridors of Imbaliyethu Primary School that the ANC public meeting was held with the councillor every Wednesday, to discuss community matters.
“Just as the councillor, standing at the front of the room, was making his closing remarks, two men stormed in and one of them began shooting at him and around the room,” said the witness.
“I pushed my baby to the ground fearing for his safety.”
Everyone in the classroom dropped to the floor “like soldiers” as the second man began shooting. “We started running outside and more gunshots were fired in the corridors. Outside I saw the councillor [Shezi] on the floor next to a pool of blood.”
The emotional witness said Shezi was alive but could not move when she found him. Community members were screaming and calling for help.
“We carried him to his car and he was taken to hospital,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Other community members said they feared for the safety of the children and the staff at the school.
A police task team has been established to investigate the case.
KZN violence monitor Mary de Haas said it was important to understand the councillor’s profile, as this would help determine the motive behind the shooting.
De Haas said political shootings might be linked to intra-party conflict as politicians vied for positions.
Mayor James Nxumalo appealed for calm.
DA caucus leader Tex Collins said
: “This is clearly a political assassination and must be condemned.”
On Thursday, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge said the task team had made “tremendous inroads” in the case and had already identified possible suspects.
Earlier this month, Dumisani Malunga and Bheki Chiliza, the chairman and branch secretary of the ANC Oshabeni branch on the South Coast, were shot dead.
At least 30 politically motivated killings have have occurred in KZN in the past four years. The Mercury