19 December 2016
Durban – A spate of public officials' murders is threatening years of stability in KwaZulu-Natal, MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube said on Monday.
"We have not seen this many killings in KZN in a very long time and this latest murder is threatening to reverse the stability we have built over time in the province with a long history of violent conflict," she said.
Dube-Ncube said the shooting of uPhongolo municipality's Ward 7 councillor Mbhekiseni "Pat" Khumalo, 57, on Saturday night appeared to be part of a well-orchestrated killing spree of public officials.
Khumalo was shot dead at his house by an unknown assailant who posed as a resident requiring assistance.
Dube-Ncube said Khumalo's death comes as the province is still "licking its wounds" following the murders of councillor Ace Houston in Harding and of Inkosi Mathonsi of Mandeni.