The assassination of IFP councillor under the uMkhanyakude district municipality has degenerated into insults between the traditional political foes.
Innocent “Killer” Mkhwanazi, 43, one of the IFP’s popular leaders in uMkhanyakude, was gunned down in Nordale uMtubatuba last week. While his bodyguards survived the attack, Mkhwanazi succumbed to his injuries.
Two days has barely passed since he was laid to rest, now the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is accusing IFP provincial chairperson Thamsanqa Ntuli of having a double agenda.
“The truth of the matter is that the IFP leaders have mastered the art of weeping crocodile tears in public yet in the dark corners they are the architects of mayhem,” said the ANC.
“We are calling upon police to do thorough investigation behind the murder of IFP councillor Innocent Mkhwanazi, who served in uMtubatuba local municipality.”
The party insisted that the investigation behind the murder of Mkhwanazi was sinister because he was beginning to have a cosy relationship with the ANC.
During the funeral proceedings on Sunday, IFP Jozini mayor Mfananaye Mathe raised eyebrows when he launched a scathing attack on ANC uMkhanyakude mayor Siphile Mdaka on the grounds that he was unduly occupying the mayorship position.
“Killer died an unhappy man because the IFP had not be given its rightful place to lead uMkhanyakude as voted for by the people,” Mathe said.
“The courts must not take away the rights of voters. I did see that they will speak today, when they are given the podium. They must apologise and give the IFP what belongs to them.”
The bickering and jostling in the uMkhanyakude district is a subject of legal wrangle with both the IFP and ANC claiming legitimacy.
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