Chris Gilili and Lungani Zungu
Two ANC leaders – one on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal and the other in Tshwane – have been killed in what are both suspected to be politically motivated murders.
In Ga-Rankuwa, Collen Mpyane, the ANC ward 30 chairperson, was fatally shot on Sunday while sitting in his car outside a friend’s home in Zone 4.
In KZN, ANC councillor Mnqobi Molife was shot dead when three armed men forced their way into a room he was occupying in Margate. Police confirmed the murder on Monday morning.
Molife was a ward 99 councillor in eThekwini, which is the party’s biggest region. His relative Smiso Khuluse said the family was shattered.
“We are devastated. We didn’t expect him to die in this painful way,” said Khuluse.
Khuluse said they believed the killing was politically motivated.
“He was a politician and we believe that those who killed him are inspired by political agendas.” The ANC spokesperson in KZN, Mafika Mndebele, confirmed the killing.
In Ga-Rankuwa, Mpyane’s friend Welhemina Maselela was with him before he was shot outside her house. She said Mpyane was a friend to everyone around the community and doesn’t understand who would want him dead.
A fatally wounded Mpyane tried to drive himself home but he lost control of the vehicle, hit a stop sign and died a street away from his house. He was driving a new Polo that he had bought only on Tuesday last week.
Mpyane had been chairperson of the SJJ Lesolang ANC branch for the past 15 years.
He was also a board member of the Central Drug Authority, the George Mukhari Academic Hospital and the Gauteng Development Agency.
Mpho Tladinyane, branch secretary said, “We are very saddened by the passing of Mpyane, especially the manner in which he died. He was a true servant of his community in various capacities. It’s a serious loss.
“We don’t want to speculate regarding his murder, we will let the police do their work. We are engaging with his family to discuss funeral arrangements and other details.”
No one has been arrested for either murder.
