DURBAN - THE boyfriend of a woman who was among the three people shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Inanda two months ago, said election day was a bitter moment for him.
Philisiwe Jili, 41, Ncami Shange, 34, and Beatrice Dlamini were shot outside Buhlebethu Primary School, where they had gone to attend an ANC councillor nomination meeting in September.
In the area on Monday, some people were seen coming in and out of the voting stations, children played on the street, other people wore matching outfits while carrying cooler boxes, and there was a huge crowd at a soccer field watching a match held to celebrate the holiday.
But for Simnikiwe Makhanda, this was another day of living in fear.
Makhanda, the late Jili’s boyfriend, spoke on Monday outside the school where she was killed. He said he would not vote because the day reminded him of his loss.
“To this day I can still remember seeing her lying in a pool of blood and people taking videos of what had just happened. This was the saddest thing that ever happened to me. Every time I hear about voting my heart always gets broken because she died while she went there to vote for change and she was murdered for practising her right. I have lost interest in anything that involves voting and politics,” he said.
He said corruption in the ANC was another reason why he decided not to cast his vote. “She did not get sick but was killed with a gun. How difficult can it be for such a big party to work with the police and track down the suspects? My woman left in the early hours of that morning to vote only for the ANC.
“As soon as they opened the gate and then boom; three people were shot dead. This is why I believe the councillor candidates who held the meeting here know who did that. But because of how they work, no one is willing to help. Why should I vote? Should I vote for change that cost me the love of my life?” Makhanda said.
He said he was concerned about his safety since there had been no arrests and no developments reported.
“I still have fear to associate myself with these things because she left to go and vote and she came back in a coffin. I still get nervous because we still have no idea why she was killed. Whether it was because of her loyalty to the party or what. I am scared that I might get there and end up not voting because of the hurt I am feeling.
“My biggest fear is that the person or people who did this know us and we don't know them, which puts us at more risk.”
Daily News