Durban — A high-level meeting is scheduled to be held before the end of the week to discuss urgent measures to resolve cases involving the killing of public representatives and discuss mechanisms to pro-actively end the ongoing heinous crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.
That was according to the KZN Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison following recent attacks on ward councillors in the province.
MEC Sipho Hlomuka called for an urgent meeting with police management to discuss the ongoing killing of public representatives in the province.
The department said that the high-level meeting will look at urgent measures to resolve cases involving the killing of public representatives and discuss mechanisms to pro-actively end the ongoing heinous crimes in the province. The meeting is scheduled to be before the end of the week.
During the meeting, Hlomuka will also receive updates on all high-profile cases which are threatening the stability of the province and will receive progress in the implementation of the turnaround plans to fight against crime in the province.
In the early hours of Monday, ANC eThekwini Municipality councillor Mnqobi Molefe was gunned down.
Last week, IFP councillor, Siyanda Magubane of ward 11 was killed in uMsinga and another survived the attack while they were driving on the R33.
Also last week, a senior official in uMlalazi, Reggie Ngema and a municipal manager’s close protector were killed in two separate incidents.
Hlomuka condemned the incidents and said police and all agencies must close ranks and resolve these cases.
“The killing of public representatives cannot continue unabated. With the intervention of the national political task team, we have seen these cases going down and suspects being arrested. We are deeply concerned that there is now a resurgence in these killings, mainly in local government. We appeal to the police to work with speed in resolving these cases and ensure stability in communities. Our meeting will discuss methods and collaboration required to end these callous murders.
“We also wish to extend our deepest condolences to all affected families who have lost their relatives. We want to assure them that the government will not rest until this province is liberated from merciless criminals,” Hlomuka said.
Earlier this week, KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala was left concerned about the murder of councillors in the province.
Zikalala said that the attacks on councillors should be viewed as a crime against the state and the people of South Africa.
The sphere of local government within our province will not succumb to the will of the forces of evil who seek to destabilise it, Zikalala said.
eThekwini mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda expressed concern that since last year, there had been an increase in the number of killings of public representatives in the municipality. As a result, the leadership of the municipality sought the intervention of Police Minister Bheki Cele.
“It is unfortunate that while this intervention was beginning to yield positive results, we have witnessed this latest incident,” Kaunda said.
Daily News