KZN traffic chief shot dead at work
Pietermaritzburg’s chief traffic officer was gunned down by one of his junior officers on Thursday afternoon.
Nqobile Madonda, acting Msunduzi local municipality spokeswoman, said the shooting had taken place at the offices of the municipality’s traffic department in Washington Road at about 3pm.
“Senior Superintendent (Pumla) Dlamini was shot multiple times and passed away at Medi-Clinic Hospital and the suspect who is a fellow employee is on the run,” said Madonda.
She said that a labour issue was believed to have been at the heart of the shooting, but could not provide further details.
Madonda said the junior officer fled and was still at large.
Dlamini’s family were at the hospital when he died at about 4pm on Thursday.
The city’s traffic department has during the past two years had numerous problems, with questions being raised about the qualifications of some of the officers. These had led to strikes as well as lengthy suspensions for some officers.
The shooting follows less than a week after African National Congress members at one ward were involved in a scuffle involving the city’s deputy mayor Thobani Zuma.
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed the shooting. He said that a case of murder had been opened at the Alexandra Road Police station.
“It is alleged that a 49-year-old male was shot at by the suspect after an argument. The motive of the killing is unknown and no arrest has been made at this stage,” said Zwane.