PRETORIA, June 5 (ANA) – A special police task team has been established to investigate and try to prevent political killings, Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko said on Sunday.
“We have noted with serious concern the incidents of killings, particularly where political figures are victims or where the killings are being linked to the upcoming local government. A situation like this cannot be allowed to continue, especially in the context of democracy,” he said in a statement.
Therefore a multi-disciplinary task team had been set up to investigate the killings and where possible to prevent the killings from happening. The team would be made up of members of various SA Police Service (SAPS) units, including crime intelligence, detectives, the directorate for priority crime investigation (Hawks), and other specialised units such as forensics.
Nhleko called on all members of the public and political parties who had any information on such killings to give the information to the police so that these could be investigated quickly and thoroughly.
“We appeal to all responsible South Africans who value their democracy to ensure that this situation is not allowed to continue by giving information at their disposal to the police so that these killings can be stopped and for perpetrators to face the full might of the law,” he said.
He had been assured by the acting national police commissioner that such cases would receive priority attention.
“With the heated temperature because of the upcoming elections we are appealing to all to refrain from instigating violence or to use language that may be deemed to incite violence.
“This is also an appeal to political leaders and parties to give democracy a chance and allow all to exercise their political freedom as enshrined in the Constitution,” Nhleko said.
May was particularly brutal for the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal as far as political killings are concerned.
Barely a month after councillor Zodwa Sibiya’s murder at Glebelands hostel ion Durban, ANC councillor Bhekithemba “Thami” Goodwill Nyembe was shot dead in Nongoma after being ambushed while driving. Nyembe’s wife was with him at the time and survived the ordeal.
On May 31, the chief financial officer of Mooi Mpofana municipality and ANC cadre Simo Mncwabe was shot dead in Edendale a day after he had resigned his post, allegedly because of death threats.
A day later, the ANC’s branch chairman in Edendale Nathi Hlongwa was shot dead while returning from a party meeting in nearby iMbali.
On the same day, ANC member Siyabonga Dominic Ngubo was murdered in Inchanga.
– African News Agency (ANA)
