WHILE the world was shocked to see South Africa’s capital city of Tshwane burning this week, the Hibiscus Coast hasn’t escaped the political turmoil in the run-up to the August 3 elections.
Local leaders fear violence will also escalate here and have appealed for calm. ANC candidates in particular have been warned to guard their backs and report any threats to their personal safety.
The opposing factions in the ANC are:
* The Progressives and;
* The Forces of Change
The former are said to be aligned to the Regional Executive Committee whose members were very outspoken over the ousting of Senzo Mchunu as the ANC’s leader in the province last year and then as KZN Premier more recently.
At the time, many supporters from the Lower South Coast branch helped to bring Durban to a standstill as they protested.
The ‘Forces of Change’ are aligned to the Provincial Executive Committee and new ANC leader in the province Sihle Zikalala, who is apparently ‘a Zuma man’.
The ANC is confident of an overall victory in the August 3 elections, but the battle is over who will fill the top spots.
However, the mayors have already been announced.
* Cynthia Mqwebu retains her position at the helm for Hibiscus Coast and;
* The new mayor of Ugu is Tolomane Myayiza, who replaces Ntombifikile Gumede.
Mayor Mqwebu is widely regarded as neutral while Mr Myayza is allegedly pro ‘Forces of Change’.
Unfortunately, innocent relatives of politicians have been the main victims so far with factional battles believed to be behind at least two murders in Gamalakhe.
Others have been injured, including a five-year-old girl.
A Hibberdene man was killed in December last year, another in Gamalkhe a month ago and a woman on Sunday night. All three were related to politicians in the ANC Lower South Coast region (LSCR) and in the ‘Progressives’ faction.
The latest victim, Ntokozo Lubanyana (38), was killed in a hail of bullets at her KwaXaba homestead on Sunday evening.
She was the sister of Hibiscus Coast Municipality Exco member and LSCR ANC Women’s League secretary Mosley Lubanyana.
Last month, Manqoba Ncane (31) was shot dead at his home in Gamalakhe. He was the brother of ANCYL Lower South Coast deputy regional chairman, Mondli Ncane.
“Manqoba was shot twice in the head and four times in the body,” said Capt Mfeka.
Earlier this month, Sikhumbuzo Ngwane, PR candidate from Umzinto, was attacked by unknown gunmen at his home.
His five-year-old daughter sustained injuries from flying glass.
In December last year, Armstrong Msomi (27) was murdered in Woodgrange, Hibberdene. Armstrong was nephew to the Hibiscus Coast Municipality HOD for Economic Development, Siyabonga Zama.
He is known as a fiery ANC member not averse to speaking his mind at meetings.
Sources within the party say that there is a ‘dark cloud of fear’ hanging over politicians and supporters at the moment and tensions are running high.
“Politics today have become politics of stomach – power-mongering and money are driving people to the edge,” said one insider.
You argue with someone in a meeting today, tomorrow someone dies and the going is getting tougher.
Police are still investigating the exact motives for all the shootings.
In a statement issued recently, the ANC voiced its concerns about the recent attacks on its members.
Selvan Chetty said they were calling on SAPS to ensure swift arrests.
“We call on all our members to exercise caution and restraint during the election campaign and to report any threats to their personal safety,” he said.
He also issued a stern warning to those who believed they could intimidate and use violence to disrupt election processes.
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