DURBAN - TRADITIONAL leaders in KwaZulu-Natal are on edge following the killing of another induna in the province last week.
Induna Makhosonke Bubu Cele of eMambedwini Traditional Council in the iLembe District was murdered outside his home last Thursday.
His death came as the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) held an imbizo to discuss the killing of traditional leaders.
Cele’s slaying sees the number of izinduna killed in the past few years climb to 33, according to Ubumbano Iwezinduna, an organisation that says it represents the interests of izinduna.
The killing also comes at a time when Ubumbano Iwezinduna is at loggerheads with the House of Traditional Leaders, a body made up largely of amakhosi.
Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka said his department was concerned about the ongoing killings and urged communities to help police find the perpetrators.
He said Induna Cele had been part of the imbizo they had held the day before, on September 23.
“To learn of his death came as a shock since the issues discussed in this imbizo were attacks on amakhosi and izinduna,” he said.
Hlomuka said the motive for this latest killing was unknown and he called on the police to apprehend those responsible. He also called on community members with information to come forward.
“As the province of KwaZulu-Natal, we are faced with several challenges that are within the institution of traditional leadership, that require all of us to pull together and find innovative solutions.
“Since August last year, three amakhosi have been killed. Currently, the whereabouts of Ibambabukhosi Makhosandile Ngcobo of the Qiniselani Manyuswa Traditional Council is not known, following his abduction by men who posed as cops on the April 19, 2021.”
He said while there was no clear motive for the attacks, they were a cause of great concern to the provincial government.
In most of the incidents, the modus operandi was the same: perpetrators attacked the leaders when they were at their homes or on their way to their homes.
Ubumbano lwezinduna said they were concerned that another induna had been killed.
It said the information at their disposal was that Cele was at his home when he received a call. On stepping out of his house he was shot dead.
“We as Ubumbano LweziNduna denounce such barbaric attacks and shameful acts against traditional leaders, both in our institution and in society in general. Our society cannot continue another day harbouring such disgraceful people, who are hell-bent on tearing the moral fabric of our society apart,” the organisation said.
THE MERCURY