General Fannie Masemola, the national commissioner of police, has vowed to find the murderer of Khethamabala Sithole, a member of parliament for the IFP.
Sithole, the IFP’s deputy chief whip in the National Assembly, was killed on Saturday in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg. He was 68 years old.
Three unidentified gunmen opened fire on the group during a meeting at the Buyafuthi Hostel at about 5.30pm.
Motive for the attack not known
Sithole was killed, and two others, including IFP member Alco Ngobese, who was taken to a hospital, were injured.
While one of the injured was treated and sent home, the other is still in the hospital.
Although the motive for Sithole’s killing is unknown, the IFP called the murder an “assassination”, implying that it might have had a political motivation.
Masemola expressed his confidence that the team tasked with investigating the murder will make progress in the near future, noting that cops are closing in on the suspects fast.
“I am satisfied with the amount of evidence that the investigating team has gathered thus far,” Masemola said.
“We know who we are looking for; it’s just a matter of time before we effect an arrest. We also urge this suspect to hand himself over to the nearest police station.”
IFP is poorer without Sithole
Mkhuleko Hlengwa, the national spokesperson for the IFP, said law enforcement would “spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice”, although specifics of the incident were still unknown.
He described Sithole as a hard-working leader of the people and the country.
“We have lost a trusted patriot and a diligent leader of the IFP. Jobe [Sithole’s clan name] joined the IFP in his youth and served in various party structures, including being IFP Gauteng chairperson,” Hlengwa said.
Sithole was the IFP councillor in Ekurhuleni before serving briefly in the Gauteng provincial legislature from 2009 to 2010.
He diligently served in the National Assembly until his passing at the weekend, according to Hlengwa.
“The IFP is poorer today with Jobe’s passing, and South Africa has lost a good man who served his country par excellence.
“The IFP extends its sincerest condolences to the Sithole family,” Hlengwa said.
