ANCKZN APPLAUDS THE ARREST OF IFP MAYOR FOR CONSPIRACY TO MURDER
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has noted the arrest of the three suspects including the IFP Mayor in eNdumeni Local Municipality in connection with a maneuver to assassinate his colleague.
A team of the South Africa's elite police unit, Hawks based in the province intercepted information of a plot to assassinate the council speaker. It’s alleged that the mayor Siboniso Richard Mbatha, a councillor of Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality and a hit man had intended to assassinate the speaker Bongiwe Mbatha who is alleged to be an obstacle in the awarding of a tender to their (mayor and councillor) cronies.
It’s alleged that the council’s speaker suspected undue influence and possible corruption in the process of awarding tender and challenged the process. The accused briefly appeared in Escort Magistrate Court and the case adjourned for 31 May 2018, for bail application.
The ANC is concerned about the arrest of the public representatives for such a serious allegation and it confirms our observations that the IFP led municipalities are characterized by corruption and maladministration.
Whilst we uphold principle of equality before the law and presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, however, the charges of conspiracy to murder faced by the mayor and the councillor are a clear indication that they do not deserve to hold public office. The attitude of the IFP leadership towards this arrest will be crucial in stamping out corrupt public representatives in the council they lead.
The ANC hopes that the prosecution authority and the investigating authorities will leave no stone unturned to secure conviction in this case. We further hope that the police will move swiftly to protect the life of the council’s speaker and expose the brains behind a number of the murders in the province.
The ANC calls upon members of the public and security forces who may have any information on the assassination of other political leaders, public representatives, public servants and any murders in the province to come forward with that vital information.
The most important thing is the arrest of those who ordered the assassination of many people who have perished in this province.
Statement issued by Cde Sihle Zikalala, ANCKZN PTT Coordinator, 24 May 2018
