Condolences continue to pour in for an African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) councillor under the City of uMhlathuze on the north coast in KwaZulu-Natal who was gunned down while giving a church sermon on Tuesday morning.
Pastor John Myaka, a proportional representative, was in the pulpit at a church in eNseleni outside Richards Bay when he was killed in full view of congregants.
According to the police’s crime statistics, the township accounts for the highest murder, rape, and contact crime in the region.
ACDP provincial leader Bishop Eric Manqele told Sunday World on Thursday that Myaka’s killing was unexpected, saying it had sent shockwaves in the party.
“Pastor Myaka was a man of peace who was loved by everyone within his community. The manner in which he was killed inside a church is more frightening and despicable,” he said.
According to police, two men entered the church and fired several lethal shots directed at Myaka before fleeing without a trace.
“A case of murder has been opened and it is being investigated by the eMpangeni police,” explained provincial police spokesperson Thenjiswa Ngcobo.
In the aftermath of the attack, the National Freedom Party called for bodyguards to be assigned to its councillor Philani Mavimbela whom despite his party having a pact with the ANC he votes with the IFP.
In 2021, Sunday World reported about the killing of pastor Sicebi Msweli of uMtubatuba, who was killed instantly when gunmen fired 30 high-calibre shots inside the church.
Congregants had to run for cover as they flee from flying bullets. Twenty-two-year-old congregant Ngcebo Zulu was caught in the crossfire and died on the scene.
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