Former ANCYL leader Sindiso Magaqa dies

Former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa has died.

He was admitted to hospital in July after being shot with two other councillors in uMzimkhulu, KwaZulu Natal.

Magaqa and the two councillors were reportedly shot at a general dealer store.

He was the ANC Youth League secretary-general before the league was disbanded in 2012.

The ANC said Magaqa lived his life “boldly and courageously”.

“His contribution to the struggles of youth and South Africans in general for economic freedom will never be forgotten,” the party said.

“The African National Congress sends its deepest condolences to Comrade Sindiso Magaqa’s family. May they find solace in the knowledge that we painfully share their loss and thank them for having borrowed the ANC and the country this incomparable son of the soil.”

The National Freedom Party (NFP) said it was “deeply disturbed and concerned about the ongoing killings” in KwaZulu-Natal and extended their condolences to Magaqa’s family and friends.

“Our people are living in constant fear of being caught in the cross fire of what has become normalized in our society as ” political killings” amongst ANC members targeting each other,” spokesperson Sabelo Sigudu said.

“This cannot be left to go on unchallenged. It’s high time that law enforcement authorities reclaimed that province and bring these killings to end and protect our people from living in fear.”

The NFP called on Police Minister Fikile Mbalula to put an end the killings and bring those responsible to justice.

“It’s high time that government Minister’s focus on what they are paid to do – service our people instead of focusing on smearing each other in public over scandals whilst our people live in constant fear every day of been caught in between firing lines” Sigudu said.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema described magaqa as a “brother and friend”.