Durban — A close friend of the slain DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, Thokozani Ngema, has called for the police to cast the net wider and round up more people who were involved in his assassination in December 2023.
Ndlovu was also the Chief Whip of the uMngeni Local Municipality Council.
“It is hard to believe that the suspect planned the assassination alone. I am inclined to believe that the people who ordered and paid for the killing of my friend,” said Ngema.
He added: “They stole Gatsheni (Ndlovu’s clan name) from us as his friends, his family, the DA and the people at large.”
Ngema’s utterances come as the DA top brass in KwaZulu-Natal will head to the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the bail hearing of the suspect who allegedly murdered Ndlovu who was the DA councillor and uMngeni Chief Whip.
The high-powered delegation, led by the DA provincial leader Francois Rodgers, will also include uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas, his deputy Sandile Mnikathi and DA councillors in Msunduzi Municipality.
The 31-year-old suspect, who was arrested in early October, is set to apply for formal bail, a move that the State is anticipated to oppose strongly.
Like Ngema, the DA also called for a broad investigation In a statement by Rodgers last month.
“The DA is expecting the SAPS task team to announce more arrests as the only accused was only one of a collective who pulled off this assassination of Nhlalayenza. Evidence indicates that the accused did not pull the trigger,” said Rodgers.
“The DA has been actively following this case to ensure that justice is served, and in support of the family of the late councillor,” read the statement.
Ndlovu – a long-serving DA member – was brazenly gunned down in front of his family in December – sparking fear among other leaders in uMngeni Local Municipality.
He added: “We are also appealing to the police to ensure that the accused is not harmed, KZN has a dreadful reputation of witnesses and those accused of crimes being eliminated.”
The party has called for the police to cast the net wider and round up all those who “orchestrated this senseless killing”.
“It cannot be business as usual when one of our own and a leader in his community is brutally murdered in front of his family, including his children,” said Rodgers.
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995.
Daily News