Celani Sikhakhane
A coordinator of the National Youth Development Agency in Zululand has accused the late leader of the Zulu regiments of carrying out killings in Durban in the 1990s.
In a post uploaded to social media, Khumbulani Shange suggested that Mlandeni “Mgilija” Nhleko was sent by the IFP to take part in its war with the ANC.
The post read: “History has no blank pages. Mgilija was part of amabutho who killed our people in kwaXimba, Hammarsdale and many places. They used to be accompanied by soldiers ababebizwa ngoblomu.”
Nhleko was laid to rest on Saturday at Hlalangwenya in Nongoma.
Shange has drawn a fierce response from amabutho and associated NGOs, and Scrolla.Africa has learned that he has been instructed to resign from his office for spreading misinformation.
Phohloza Zungu, a member of amabutho and founder of the Sinothando non-profit organisation, called for Shange to resign or else provide proof that Nhleko took part in the killing of community members in the kwaXimba area, west of Durban.
“During the IFP and ANC violence, people on both sides lost their lives and the leaders of these parties have worked hard to bring peace and stability to the province,” said Zungu.
The Injeje yabeNguni Council has threatened to release the files of ANC leadership in KZN who were implicated in the killings of their fellow comrades.
However, ANC KZN spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela supported Shange’s accusation. He said that Nhleko was one of 200 police officers who were trained in Caprivia by the apartheid government and went on to terrorise people in townships.
Violence expert and honorary researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Prof Marry De Hass, agrees with Ntombela. She told Scrolla.Africa that the Black on Black violence which peaked in the early 1990s was instigated by police and IFP warlords.
She said that the KwaZulu homeland police were surrogates of the apartheid security force, which took part in killing people in many Durban townships and in areas such as uMgababa in the south of Durban.
When called, Shange told Scrolla.Africa that it must go back to those who are angry about his post, then ended the call.
NYDA communications manager Margaret Sikhweni said the agency regrets the social media comments made by Shange who is employed as a Coordinator.
“We would like to distance ourselves from such comments. An internal investigation will be launched, and appropriate action will be instituted against the said staff member” she said.
