KZN political parties concerned over safety of councillors
KZN political parties have raised concerns over the safety of ward councillors in the province.
This is after the murder of Ward 103 councillor Minenhle Mkhize who was gunned down outside his home in Cliffdale, west of Durban, over the weekend.
No arrests have been made yet.
The DA's Martin Meyer has asked the premier to urgently prioritise the recommendations of the 2018 Moerane Commission to ensure that councillors are protected as they fulfil their duties
"The premier and MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs have responsibilities to the elected people of this province but also to residents to ensure the safety of the councillors by dealing with the causes of political violence in KwaZulu-Natal.
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IFP Member of eThekwini Executive Committee, Mdu Nkosi, says although it would be difficult for the city to protect its over 200 councillors, these programs should be supported.
“What is important is that if there are internal squabbles in a party, it needs to be discussed and solved because it will not help us to rely on the protection when we don't know who will be killed tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Cooperative Governance MEC Sipho Hlomuka says Mkhize's murder has sent shockwaves across the spheres of local government.
