ANC KZN ward councillor gunned down during door-to-door campaign

At least two people have been shot dead in West Ridge, Durban. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), they were doing door-to-door campaigning on Friday evening, 15 October 2021.Spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said two others were also shot in the attack and were taken to hospital for their injuries.

ANC to give clarity on councillor’s killing

One of the victims who were killed is EThekwini Municipality ward 101 candidate Siyabonga Mkhize. IOL has quoted the ANC in KZN as confirming Mkhize’s death.

 “We still do not know yet the details of what transpired until we interact with the family and local structures. From tomorrow (Saturday) we will be able to enlighten more the general public as to what happened. We send our condolences to the Mkhize family on behalf of the ANC,” ANC KZN spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela said.

Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen said their paramedics responded to the scene just after 18:00. They found two males approximately forty years of age in a Nissan Navara. On closer inspection they were found to have sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were declared dead on arrival of paramedics, he said.

Reports from the scene allege one of the deceased to be a candidate Ward Councillor for the area however these details remain speculative. Two other men were rushed to a nearby hospital privately for gunshot wounds prior to the arrival of paramedics and their condition is unknown. The South African Police Services were in attendance and will be conducting the necessary investigations accordingly.

Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen

While the details remain unclear, the killing points to being politically motivated, particularly as the country is a little over two weeks away from the Local Government Elections on 1 November. KZN is known as a hotbed for political killings, but isn’t the only province that has seen such – In Tshwane, an ANC ward councillor candidate, Tshepo Motaung, was killed in a hail of bullets when driving home from a Heritage Day event back in September.