Moyahabo Mabeba
The upcoming local government elections in the trouble-torn Mogalakwena municipality in Limpopo have been thrown into turmoil with threats of political assassinations.
Matsobane Masenya, an independent councillor candidate, survived a hail of bullets last month. And he says he still faces life-threatening intimidation since he registered with IEC as a candidate.
Two weeks ago, a gunman fired several bullets at Matsobane as he got out of his car at his house in Mozombane village, outside Mokopane.
“After registering my candidacy to contest the local government elections, my campaign has been met with fierce resistance. Unknown people have been baying for my blood. When I came face-to-face with the hit man on that night of the shooting, I thought my life was over.
“This man fired shots at me when I was about to close the gate, at around midnight.
“When he started shooting, I threw myself on the ground and rolled over. Fortunately for me, he missed me and hit the garage door, kitchen door and windows.” he said.
Police found six cartridges the following morning, Matsobane added.
Whenever he tried to campaign, he claims there were attempts by gunmen to disrupt him.
“There were incidents where gunshots were fired in close proximity. However I never bothered to open a case because I couldn’t identify the gunmen.”
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said a case of attempted murder was opened at the Mokopane police station. No arrest has been made and investigations are continuing.
Over the past decade, political assassinations in Mogalakwena have claimed the lives of many ANC politicians. These include Valtyn Kekana, chairperson of the municipal public accounts, and Ralph Kanyane, an activist and ANC branch leader. Both were shot execution-style.
Matsobane, who is a former member of the ANC, said he left the organisation because of deep-seated internal squabbles which often ended in political murder..
“The people who mastermind these political killings are those who are anti-progress and want to push for their preferred candidates, whom they will control in the council. I refused to be controlled when I was in the ANC and that obviously angered certain people. When their nefarious political motives fail, they resort to assassinations.”
The ANC in the province has slammed the police for failing to arrest alleged political killers in Mogalakwena.
ANC’s provincial spokesperson Donald Selamolelathe said: “We cannot have so many people being killed and not a single person is arrested. We are disappointed in the police.”
