The MEC for community safety, security and liaison (DCSL), Jackie Macie, says the police are working around the clock to investigate the shooting of political activist Sizwe Nyambi.
Nyambi was riddled with bullets on Tuesday evening, October 1, as he was making his way back to his residence.
According to a statement released by the Mpumalanga SAPS, an armed man wearing a black jersey and a white hat approached him and fired several shots. The victim sustained multiple wounds and was rushed to hospital.
Macie has condemned this act and asked anyone with any information that might lead to an arrest to come forwards. “We are shocked and taken aback in the manner in which these events have unfolded. It is clear from the analysis of the incident that the perpetrator was aiming for his life. We will leave no stone unturned; the culprit will be brought to book and face the might of the law. Sizwe is an ANC activist who has done so much to assist the community. We wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.
A former student representative council member of Tshwane University of Technology’s Soshanguve Campus, Nyambi has been vocal about issues of concern to the community. He is also commonly known for voicing his apprehension on live Facebook videos. Earlier on the Tuesday evening in question, he had made a live video criticising the Nkomazi Local Municipality’s employees for inadequate water supply less than an hour before the crime.
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“The community needs water, but you [municipal employees] are not bringing in water tankers because you are using this to fight your issues with your management. We are aware that you don’t want to work because the municipality has cut your overtime hours, [but the municipality’s decision is] a move we highly support as a community, because some of you were drastically abusing it. You don’t do your work during working hours because you want to capitalise on the overtime. You are using us as the community to fight your own selfish battles,” he said on the live video.
Nyambi had recently sourced 15 water tanks from Malelane Toyota, which were donated to various wards in Nkomazi.
“As young people actively involved in the political space, our aim is to help wherever possible between the municipality and the community. I have taken this step to source these water tanks, and all the municipality had to do is just fill them up with water so the community could benefit. It’s funny how people are standing in the way for large communities to get access to water. We know what they do; they are in cahoots with the private water tankers so they can continue to stay in business at the expense of poor community members. That is something we will not allow. People must do what they are hired for, or move if they are no longer capable,” Nyambi had told this publication hours before the incident.
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The Mpumalanga police have urged anyone with any information to come forward. Call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or send information via the My SAPS app.
This is a developing story. More information will published when made available.
