Everson Luhanga
Absolutely heartless. A desperate attempt to score political points.
This is how Police Minister Bheki Cele described EFF leader Julius Malema’s comments outside the home of a family that is mourning the brutal death of the 35-year-old father of four, Mthokozisi Ntumba.
“It is an absolutely heartless move by any political party or its leadership to lie to its followers and to the nation,” said the minister’s spokesperson Lirandzu Themba in a statement.
The statement criticised Malema for what the statement described as: “using the pain of a family who suffered such a devastating loss of a father, a husband and a breadwinner, to push a political agenda in a desperate attempt to gain political mileage.”
Malema accused Cele of failing to offer help to the family of Mthokozisi, which Cele claims has not been the case.
“The family is now being asked questions: Don’t you have a funeral policy? Don’t you have stokvel to contribute to your burial?” said Malema.
But Cele says he never discussed funeral arrangements with the Ntumba family when he visited them last week Thursday.
Cele said Malema’s comments were false and misleading.
The purpose of the visit was to pay condolences to the family and to demonstrate a commitment toward swift action and full accountability following the killing of Mthokozisi.
Cele put on record that while visiting the bereaved family, he assured them that the SAPS will cooperate fully with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigations into the death of Mthokozisi.
While politics has overtaken the tragic reality of a life lost too soon, Mthokozisi’s family is trying to mourn in dignity and in peace.
“We are mourning the death of a man who was everything to his family,” family spokesperson, Sthembiso Jwara told Scrolla.Africa, saying they wouldn’t be drawn on political issues.
“Mthokozisi’s death is not political. We appreciate any help we can get from anyone,” he said.
Picture source: @ _AfricanSoil
