IFP demands PKTT probe after murder of two councillor candidates in 7 days

· The South African

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has called for the immediate deployment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) to investigate the murders of two of its councillor candidates in separate incidents in KwaZulu-Natal.

The two candidates, Khethelo Mdluli of Ward 17 in uMlalazi Local Municipality and Lucky Sokhela of Ward 8 in uMshwathi Local Municipality, were gunned down within seven days of each other.

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IFP WANTS PKTT TO PROBE MURDERS

Lucky Sokhela, the IFP Ward 8 councillor candidate for uMshwathi Local Municipality in the Indlovu District, was gunned down on Tuesday, 1 September, after arriving at his home.

According to the IFP, Sokhela was allegedly followed by the perpetrators in a Polo vehicle before the attack. His murder came just days after Mdluli was shot at his home in oPhindweni, Gingindlovu, outside Eshowe.

Mdluli, 40, was a serving IFP PR councillor in uMlalazi Local Municipality and the party’s Ward 17 candidate for the upcoming elections. He was shot in front of his children on Thursday evening and died from his injuries at Ngwelezane Hospital on Monday, 31 August.

IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the killing of political candidates could not be treated as ordinary criminality.

He said the attacks strike at the heart of South Africa’s constitutional democracy and threaten the right of citizens to participate freely and safely in political life.

“Two political candidates murdered within seven days is an alarming development that demands an immediate and decisive response from law-enforcement authorities,” Hlengwa said.

“The IFP therefore calls for the urgent deployment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team to establish the circumstances surrounding these killings, identify the perpetrators and establish whether political motives may have played a role.

“We call on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to treat these cases as matters of the highest priority and to mobilise every necessary resource to ensure that those responsible are identified, arrested and prosecuted,” Hlengwa added.

CALL FOR POLITICAL TOLERANCE

The IFP also called for zero tolerance for political violence ahead of the elections.

The party urged political parties, candidates, supporters, community leaders and members of the public to reject violence, intimidation and political intolerance.

“The murder of political candidates must never become normalised. KwaZulu-Natal has paid too high a price for political violence. South Africa cannot afford to go backwards. We must ensure that the coming elections are decided by the will of the people, not by fear, intimidation or the barrel of a gun,” Hlengwa said.

The latest killings come amid broader concerns over political violence in KwaZulu-Natal and other parts of the country ahead of the local government elections. Several political killings have been reported in recent months, prompting calls for stronger protection of political representatives and candidates.

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