KZN ANC ‘cautious’ in wake of hit list

James Nxumalo eThekwini Metro Municipality mayor. File picture: Sibusiso Ndlovu

James Nxumalo eThekwini Metro Municipality mayor. File picture: Sibusiso Ndlovu

Published Jan 31, 2016

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Durban - Political tension within the ANC reached new heights this week following the emergence of a hit list targeting “people against corruption” including the mayor of uMsundzi municipality, Chris Ndlela.

All 15 people on the leaked hit list, of which Independent Media has seen a copy, are claimed to be staunch supporters of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu, who was beaten by Sihle Zikalala to the post of provincial ANC chairperson in November last year.

Read: Suspect in traffic chief murder surrenders

It is claimed the region is split between those supporting Zikalala and Mchunu.

On Friday, traffic officer Mthokozisi “Chopho” Ngubane, whose name was on the hit list, escaped a hail of bullets when he was attacked by unknown gunmen outside his house in Pietermaritzburg.

According to sources, Ngubane was targeted because he is seen as being “too close” to Ndlela, who is wanted dead. He escaped with no injuries.

Read: Task team to hunt for ‘killer’ traffic cop

Ndlela, who is also deputy chairman of the Moses Mabhida region in Pietermaritzburg, declined to comment on Saturday, saying the matter was being discussed internally.

The shooting comes after the killing of ANC member Phumla “Joe” Dlamini, who was the acting manager of public safety in the Msunduzi traffic department.

His name also appeared on the list, which surfaced on social media. He was shot dead two weeks ago and was buried last week.

Read: ANC ‘hijacked by criminals’

Also on the list was ANC treasurer of the region, Patrick Jaca, whose his son, Lunga, 25, was shot by unknown people in December last year.

He escaped with minor injuries. No arrests have been made.

Jaca was adamant the shooting of his son was sparked by internal squabbling in the region and said they were being targeted because of their allegiance to Mchunu.

Jaca said he was alerted by his “comrades” about the list which was circulating on social media.

Read: ANC shutting us out: SACP members

Despite his name appearing on the hit list, Jaca said he would not stop standing for truth within the fractured ANC.

“Even though I’m scared, I’m unfazed. I was born in the ANC and I will die in the ANC. I’m not going to run away,” he said.

uMsunduzi Municipal manager Mxolisi Nkosi, whose name also appears on the list, said he has been in more than four hit lists, but the latest one scared him. He has since beefed up his security.

“I’m scared because one person who is on that list was gunned down. We are scared and cautious,” he said.

The ANC in KZN is beset by controversies including the killing of Philip Dlamini and Mandla Hlatshwayo who were both shot last week at an SACP meeting at the homestead of eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo.

Hlatshwayo was buried yesterday while Dlamini was laid to rest on Sunday.

Sunday Tribune

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