A shock wave ripped through Vryheid on Thursday night when an attempt was made on the life of AbaQulusi PR Councillor Swelakhe Shelembe. Cllr Shelembe was on his way to the Engen garage to get himself a hot chocolate when unknown gunmen opened fire on his car at the corner of Kerk and Edward Street. He was in his private vehicle, escorted by a municipality-assigned bodyguard. According to police, the vehicle was penetrated by five bullets. Both men were unharmed in the attack and taken to a ‘place of safety’ by local police.
It is said that Cllr Shelembe is chairing a multi-party ethics committee in the municipality, delving into allegations of irregular expenditure by the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker. According to a media statement, the findings of this report are due to be tabled in council in the coming days.
DA KZN leader MPL Francois Rodgers indicated in a media statement that, “It is clear to the DA that this terrible act against Cllr Shelembe was the work of powerful politicians and officials who wished to silence him and strike fear into councillors to protect themselves.” He furthermore said that political killings continue unabated in the province and that KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala appears to be part of the problem through failing to implement the recommendations of the Moerane Commission. The DA has on numerous occasions called for action from their side, but to no avail. They call on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to leave no stone unturned in finding the hit-men and those who ordered the assassination, no matter how high up the political chain they may be.
A shocked Ward Councillor Magda Viktor exclaimed that, “It is unacceptable that people want to settle their differences in this way.” Together with her political party, Cllr Viktor condemns the alleged assassination attempt of her co-councillor. Councillor Shelembe was advised not to comment to the media regarding the shooting.
Mayor Maphisa said that the matter was reported to him by the municipal manager, Mr Dhlamini, on Friday afternoon. “He provided me with details of the matter; that a case has been opened with the SAPS and the police are looking into it. As the matter is sub judice, I would wish to not comment any further but to express my concern at this occurrence and to strongly condemn it. Abaqulusi is a politically peaceful town. I have further discussed the matter with the municipal manager that perhaps, as a municipality, we need to conduct threat assessments together with the police for all our municipal councillors to try and ascertain the need for security and prevent such occurrences from taking place in the future.”
It is said that Cllr Shelembe already had his own bodyguard before a municipal bodyguard was appointed after he received several telephonic threats. He has other business connections as well, and therefore a police investigation has to occur to determine the motive of the attack. No arrests have been made as yet.
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