By Celani Sikhakhane
The political killings that are ravaging KwaZulu-Natal dominated the DA leadership’s meeting with King Misuzulu KaZwelithini on Wednesday.
At the meeting at the newly renovated kwaNkomonye royal palace in Ulundi, His Majesty said the killing of politicians remained a scourge in KZN.
DA provincial leader Francois Rodgers said the King told them that all political party leaders needed to take responsibility for the political killings, since most of the murders result from intra-party competition for positions.
“The King was forthright that the political killings remain a scourge in KZN and wants leadership to take accountability,” said Rodgers.
On Tuesday night DA councillor and uMngeni Local Municipality chief whip Nhlalayenza Ndlovu was killed in a hail of bullets at his home in Mpophomeni.
His murder comes after many killings of councillors in KZN — more than 52 since 2018, according to SAPS crime statistics.
The DA also used the meeting to discuss the agricultural economy of the province to determine how it could assist the royal family to sustain itself through agriculture.
The DA’s visit comes after the EFF leadership, led by Julius Malema, paid a courtesy visit to the King on Tuesday.
Last week the IFP, led by its President Velenkosini Hlabisa, also visited King Misuzulu to revive its relationship with the Zulu Monarch.
KZN is expected to be one of the most highly contested provinces in the country with the resurgent IFP confident it could unseat the ANC.
The IFP has already joined forces with the DA during by-elections where the DA supports IFP candidates in IFP strongholds. The IFP also campaigns for the DA where the DA has the best chance of winning.
The EFF also appeared to be retracing its steps back to the arms of the IFP with Malema saying the ANC had no chance of winning their premiership of KZN next year.
Pictured above: DA leadership led by Francois Rodgers and Sthembiso Ngema discussed political killings with King Misuzulu KaZwelithini at the kwaNkomonye royal palace in Ulundi.
Image source: Supplied
