“As we speak, I don't even trust anyone here because people are wearing ANC T-shirts but inside, they are criminals. People are wearing a sheep's skins while inside, they are wolves.”
These were the words of Mpumalanga ANC spokesperson and Mkhondo municipality PR councillor Ngelosi Ndlovu, who was speaking at the memorial service of slain Gert Sibande regional deputy chairperson Muzi Manyathi on Thursday.
Manyathi, also a PR councillor in Mkhondo, was gunned down at a filling station in the area on Friday evening.
After his execution, Ndlovu told Sowetan that there was a hit-list with her name, that of Manyathi and another councillor, which was circulated in June.
She told mourners she had beefed up her security.
“When Muzi died, I was even told not to go see him. I defied those people and went to see him because he treated me like a mother. He was fighting injustice that was happening at Mkhondo municipality. He would research and at each council meeting, he would come prepared and would seek clarity.
“Yes, I know we are all going to die but the way Muzi died is uncalled for – dying at the hands of people who want to own the municipality,” said Ndlovu.
Regional secretary of the ANC Youth League in Gert Sibande, Maqhawe Mlotshwa, ascended the stage with heavily armed security guards.
He said Manyathi was killed because he was vocal about corruption in the municipality and at some point had to go to the Kingdom of Eswatini to hide.
“Comrade Muzi was a fearless leader who, regardless of death threats, made sure that he worked for the ANC. There was a day at ward 18 where a man came and opened the doors of our car and called us names before shooting randomly in the air.
“That man had to be stopped by women and community members. [This goes] to show that these people don’t fear to kill or threaten [others] in front of members of the public. We shall fight for what comrade Muzi wanted – a clean government and services for the people,” said Mlotshwa.
Provincial ANC deputy chairperson Speedy Mashilo said it was unclear why people should live in fear in Mkhondo while there are law enforcement agencies.
“It can’t be that our people are living in fear in our democratic SA. You would have seen the ANC Youth League leader came with bodyguards bigger than those of even the NEC [national executive committee members] and ministers just because they are scared of members of the ANC,” said Mashilo.
Manyathi’s aunt, Celiwe Sibeko, said Manyathi was a breadwinner and his death had hit the family hard.
“We can’t believe that our child has been killed for the party he loved and worked for. We ask ourselves if death is the last resort for their differences. These people should have maybe chased him away [from work] and let him be jobless. He was clever and was going to get another job,” said Sibeko.
ANC NEC member Mduduzi Manana promised that as Manyathi’s friends, they would take care of his family.
“Comrade Muzi would speak to us about his situation at home and we will make sure that the gap is not felt now that he’s gone. We know as he used to tell us that he was a breadwinner. Muzi was coming from humble beginnings and understood what corruption can do, especially to the poor, hence he fought against corruption until his death,” said Manana.
Minister of justice and correctional services Ronald Lamola said Manyathi’s death reminded him of slain ANC member Sindiso Magaqa, adding that more comrades of Manyathi’s calibre must multiply.
“We cannot be ruled by fear,” said Lamola.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
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