UPDATE: Suspect involved in KZN ANCYL murder to appear in court next week

A man who allegedly shot dead African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) member Bongani Usher Mkhize in Durban on Saturday morning has been arrested, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Police confirmed that he will appear in court next week, reports EWN. The charges include illegal possession of a firearm and murder.

It was also reported that the suspect and Mkhize were seen arguing shortly before Mkhize was fatally shot.

Mkhize, 25, was shot outside his home in Yose Drive in Umlazi’s V-section at about 9am on Saturday morning, Brigadier Jay Naicker said.

It is believed he was returning from the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal provincial conference at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) when the shooting took place. He was not attending the conference as a delegate.

Mkhize was chairman of the ANCYL at the Coastal College branch. He was also Students’ Representative Council (SRC) president at the college.

Naicker said Mkhize “sustained injuries to the body and was declared dead at the scene”. The alleged killer was known to Mkhize. Charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm were being investigated by Umlazi police.

“A 29-year-old suspect handed himself over to the police and was arrested. The firearm that was used in the commission of the crime was also confiscated from the suspect. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage. The suspect will appear in the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court next week,” said Naicker.

Sebelo said that Coastal College is the Youth League’s largest branch in the province.

Sabelo has expressed his concern for members of the ANC Youth League that have died in KZN.

“There seems to be a concerted effort to eliminate young people who are leading the ANC. There have been many ANC Youth League members who have died in KwaZulu-Natal.” 

The motive behind the killing is not yet known.

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