The ANC is determined to deal with the murderers of the ANC ward candidates.
“To those who are killing our candidates and hell-bent on being executioners of our candidates, I want to send a warning. If you think you are going to finish the ANC by executing our candidates, we are going to get you,” warned Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking at a recent mini rally in Floweni, south of Durban, Ramaphosa further described the murderers as cowards who went about killing women, further comparing the perpetrators to witches.
“They are like witches; those doing evil deeds like witches. It is clear there are those who do not want us to succeed in these elections and want us to lose.”
However, he said the ANC could not be intimidated by the murder of its candidates.
A survey conducted by the Institute for Security Studies on public violence has indicated the ANC was involved in most of the 100 political attacks since 2013.
In fact, the study found the majority of the attacks and murders were committed in KwaZulu-Natal with 44 attacks and 48 deaths, while other provinces trailed behind.
Among the recent murders, was that of Thembi Mbongo from Ward 6 in Newcastle and four others in Pietermaritzburg.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu is set to appoint a Commission of Inquiry, which will investigate the alleged political murders which have taken place in KZN in recent months.
According to Mchunu, there was evidence the marjority of the violence was internal, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
As he sets up the Commission of Inquiry, one of the areas Mchunu was wrestling with was that of jurisdiction.
“I have been consulting widely to seek guidance as we do not want to duplicate the work of police. Importantly, we want to adhere to the legal framework as this is a serious matter that will have legal implications,” he said.
Mchunu said after meeting with Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, they both believed the Commission of Inquiry would be beneficial.
Currently, the terms of reference of the Commission were being drawn up.
A formal announcement with the details of the commissioners will be made, once they have been appointed.
