Sponsored third force could be behind KZN political killings - ANC
7 September 2017
Durban - The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal says that political killings in the province are not necessarily a result of battles within the ruling party, adding that a "sponsored" third force could be behind it.
KwaZulu-Natal secretary Super Zuma made the statement during a press briefing at the ANC headquarters on Thursday, where he maintained that the party in the province was largely united.
Zuma compared the current killings to the political bloodshed in the province from the 1980s that saw Inkatha Freedom Party and ANC members killing one another.
"We are of the view that there seems to be deeper things we are not dealing with. In the late 80s and 90s, we all thought it was black-on-black violence and we were focusing on dealing with that."
He said that there was a lesson to learn from how the violence was dealt with during that era.
"Later on, we learnt that it was sponsored violence through the apartheid government. Looking at the manner in which things were done at that time, we are saying: Let's broaden our thinking; let's not just leave it here with the ANC."
He added that the killings had a specific modus operandi.
"The pattern in which it is happening is not violence. It is assassinations. They are being committed by well-trained people."
Loyal ANC member
Zuma also took a veiled jab at the Economic Freedom Fighters and Julius Malema.
Zuma said that, despite claims from other political parties, Umzimkhulu municipality councillor Sindiso Magaqa was a loyal member of the ANC.
Magaqa died this week due to bullet wounds he had sustained during an assassination attempt.
Magaqa and Malema previously shared a close relationship in the ANC Youth League.
Zuma said that, despite being offered a top tier position with another political party, Magaqa had stayed loyal to the ANC.
"We do not want to make a subject of comrade Magaqa. He was a loyal member of the ANC. He died being ANC. He was a deployed member. He was a loyal member who refused to leave the ANC. We will be giving him a dignified funeral as an ANC member."
Moerane Commission on political killings
Zuma added that the Moerane Commission, which is looking into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, would have a vital role in curbing the violence in the province.
"We call on our people who have information relating to the killings to come before the commission or to law enforcement agencies. The ANC accepts that this is a difficult time in our province, which requires all sectors of society to combine their efforts in order to find a lasting solution."
When asked why the ANC had taken some time to report to the commission, Zuma said the party was always going to testify.
"We are the ones who established the commission. We sent the instruction for it. It does not matter when we appear, but we will appear."
According to Zuma, the ANC had also established two teams: The first to conduct internal investigations into the causes of murders in the party, and the second to engage ANC members and structures, and deliver political education on the importance of unity.
