ANC councillor faces murder charge for killing party member in hail of bullets
The African National Congress (ANC) says it's concerned about the increase in political killings following the brutal murder Mduduzi Madikizela last week Friday.
Madikizela died in a hail of bullets at his home in the Eastern Cape, allegedly at the hands of another ANC member.
Councillor in the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, Lucky Birthwell Mbuzi, is believed to be behind the fatal shooting.
The 43-year-old Mbuzi, Luthando Manyana (23), Simbongile Mjuleka (29) and Siphelele Cele (18) face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
All four men are expected to appear in court on April 28.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe says the party is disheartened by the incident.
"The ANC condemns the cowardly murder of Comrade Mduduzi in the strongest possible terms.
“We are concerned about what appears to be a growing disturbing culture of violent and criminal activities being orchestrated to eliminate others.
"We therefore call on law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and leave no stone unturned in ultimately unmasking the plot and the real motives behind this heinous acts of murder.
"Every member of the ANC in good standing and who meets the constitutional prescripts of the organization has a right to stand for any position both as a public representative and within the organization.”
Mabe adds the national working committee (NWC) reiterated, in its last meeting a week ago, that there's place for violence in the governing party.
"Violence is both a crime and a serious act of misconduct in terms of the ANC Constitution.
"No member should ever be intimidated into exercising their constitutional right. Families should feel safe when comrades are out to attend meetings of the African National Congress and never have doubts that their loved once may never return alive."
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