Death stalks ANC councillors in Gert Sibande

Slain ANC Gert Sibande regional deputy chairperson Muzi Manyathi’s name was the first in an alleged hit list that was circulated in Mpumalanga.

This according to ANC provincial spokesperson and Mkhondo municipality PR councilor Ngelosi Ndlovu, who says she is now living in fear as her name was the second on the list.

Ndlovu told Sowetan on Sunday that they had seen a hit list that started circulating in June containing several names, including hers and that of Manyathi, who was also a PR councillor in Mkhondo. 

She said another PR councillor’s name was on the list and that she believed some people want them dead because they speak out against tender corruption in the Mkhondo local municipality.

Ndlovu said in some instances, they found that companies had been paid even though there was no work done.

“I’m scared and I believe I’m next as I was number two on the hit list. Muzi was number one. There was a hint from someone who told us that there was a hit list and it was circulated widely.

“We did not take that information seriously and let our guard down, and now Muzi is dead and I believe I’m next. Now it’s making sense that the hit list issue was true. As we speak, I have told the ANC in the province and they are organising security for me and the other comrade [who were on the list],” Ndlovu said.

“Our sin was to be vocal about matters of corruption and bringing service delivery to the people of Mkhondo. You will remember Manyathi and I were part of the 11 councilors who were suspended because we were not budging on corruption issues and did not belong to any cabal,” she said. . 

Manyathi was shot execution style at a filling station in Mkhondo last Friday evening.

According to the police, Manyathi was shot several times at close range by one man who emerged from a Mercedes Benz on Friday at around 18:30. 

Provincial police spokesperson Col Donald Mdlhuli said: “According to the report, a Mercedes-Benz occupied by two people with registration number plates XTN559GP was seen moving from one fuel pump to another without refilling while Manyathi was buying something from the kiosk.

“It is said that one male occupant came out of the said vehicle, armed with a  firearm and allegedly shot the victim multiple times at close range. The suspects then fled the scene using the said vehicle.

“The Mercedes-Benz was later found abandoned next to a dam and preliminary investigation indicates that the number plates on the vehicle seem not to be authentic and it was discovered that the said car was reported stolen in April this year (2022) in Brakpan, Gauteng.”

His murder came just days after he was captured on video talking about the killings.

“We are going there [ANC gatherings or meetings] but we don’t know if we will come back alive because there are always gun shots fired. You heard for yourselves. The person who was firing shots came near the car [I was in] and looked at me. I looked back [at the person] because I did not know what was happening.

“[The person] closed the door and took three steps and then pointed the gun upwards and fired shots in the air. I was grateful and I said to myself maybe when the person looked at me I changed [and became something else and that is why the person did not shoot me]. I don’t know, but what we are saying is that we cannot go on and there is no peace in our communities,” Manyathi said.

His friend and fellow comrade Ndumiso Mokako said Manyathi was speaking while campaigning for the ANC in the upcoming by-election for ward 15. 

The municipality is set to hold by-elections after six councilors, including former mayor Vusi Motha were fired by the ANC after they resigned prior to a council meeting in November 23, last year which caused the ANC to loose the mayorship position to an independent candidate Mthokozisi Simelane, who is now mayor. 

Mokoka said they had lost an asset in the party. 

“We are hurt as a movement, friends and comrades. Comrade Muzi told us about his ordeal, where an armed man opened his car and looked at him. He then went on to die after random shooting. When he told me about the incident where he was approached by the armed man, I said to him, no there’s no threat because if that man was sent to kill him, he would have done that.

“Muzi was not bound for any position. There was a time we advised him to contest for mayor but he told us that he was not keen as the ANC required qualifications, which he said he didn’t have, and allowed  the party to have a female candidate [Ndlovu], though she is not mayor now because of all the party problems,” said Mokoka..

Fellow comrade Castro Nkosi told Sowetan that Manyathi had spoken about threats to his life but said he didn’t want bodyguards. 

“We have been bit hard as the people of Gert Sibande. Comrade Muzi was one of the bravest comrades and was leading from the front. He wanted what’s good for the people of Mkhondo and was not backing down.

“As hard as it is for us, Manyathi was a breadwinner at home. He was in business, so his death is not far from home (ANC). He died for the movement he lived and worked for,” said Nkosi. 

newsdesk@sowetan.co.za