THE Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini said on Monday it has noted with serious concern media reports and the ANC statement confirming that one of the ANC ward councillors has been arrested facing serious allegations of murder.
This after an ANC media statement on Monday confirming that the party’s ward councillor and other suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of ANC members Siyabonga Mkhize and Mzukisi Nyanga.
ANC councillor candidate for eThekwini, Mkhize and ANC local leader, Nyanga, were shot dead in Cato Crest in Durban in November last year.
“We have since written to the Speaker of council, Councillor Thabani Nyawose to seek clarity and impress upon him as the custodian of the councillors’ code of conduct to take necessary action against the councillor until that councillor is cleared by a competent court of law,” said Thabani Mthethwa, DA eThekwini Chief Whip.
“It is a known fact that our Province, particularly eThekwini has for years been a hotspot for many unresolved political killings of leaders and activists. EThekwini in this current economic climate cannot afford to have the city’s image tainted by such allegations against a serving councillor.”
Mthethwa added: “No investor would invest in a city where no action is taken against a councillor facing such serious allegations. We call upon the Speaker to make sure that this councillor is removed from office so as to defend the image of the municipality. We will follow this closely to make sure that the Speaker removes this councillor.”
The ANC said in a statement on Monday calld on community members to work with the police and isolaet criminals.
“While we understand and accept the principle of natural justice that a person is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, we however call for justice for our fallen comrades. We stand with the families of our fallen comrades, and we want to see justice,” read the statement.
The ANC called also called on all ANC volunteers to continue to mobilise communities to stand up against any form of crime.
“We will be watching this case closely up until its final stages. We must intensify the fight against crime, in all its manifestations – from the unacceptable level of murders, assaults, robberies, high-jacking to domestic violence. The culture of impunity should not be tolerated in this region,” read the statement.
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