Durban – Police on Monday announced the establishment to investigate the killing of the municipal manager of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands town of Richmond.
Edward Sibusiso Sithole was gunned down in Victoria Street shortly before 9am by two unknown gunmen, who the fled in their get-away car.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said: “A Task Team has been formed by the KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa to investigate the murder of the Richmond Municipal Manager.”
According to Zwane the municipal manger was 39-years-old.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesman Lennox Mabaso said: “According to reports Sithole was brutally murdered after he was called to an incident in a nearby testing station. While the details are still sketchy, it is alleged that he was pulled of the road side by killers who posed as policeman.”
Dean Macpherson, the Democratic Alliance’s constituency head for the area, said that Sithole lost his life because he did not toe the line of the ruling African National Congress. He said that it had been no secret that Sithole had opposed the plan to increase the number of full-time councillors in the ANC controlled council.
“Due to his tough stance on corruption and maladministration, which clearly did not fit the program of action of the local ANC, Mr. Sithole was forced to seek employment elsewhere and was due to take over as Municipal Manager at uMgeni Municipality on 13 March 2017,” said MacPherson.
He expressed his condolences to Sithole’s family.
National Freedom Party spokesman, Sabelo Sigudu, said: “The National Freedom Party (NFP) wishes to express words of condolence on the sad shooting and killing of Mr Sithole, the Municipality Manager of Richmond Local Municipality, which took place this morning.” He described the shooting as “evil”.
It had initially been reported that Sithole was due to start at the Richmond Municipality, but in fact Sithole had worked there for the past five years.