ANC politician murdered in African province of KwaZulu-Natal

A politician of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) was murdered in the city of Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal Province, authorities said on Monday. Makhosonke Msibi, a city councilor, was shot dead at his home Sunday evening after he returned home from a meeting, Police Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mdunge said. Msibi had just returned home from his party's recruitment campaign in nearby Nongoma, when an unknown gunman entered his house and shot him at point blank range in full view of his family, according to KwaZulu-Natal cooperative governance MEC (member of executive council) Nomusa Dube. No one has been arrested for the killing, the motive of which remained unknown, police said. "We do not know the cause and the motive. We are, however, worried that the killing of councillors is becoming a disturbing trend, noting that it is not happening for the first time," Dube said. Political murders are not uncommon in South Africa. In July last year, unidentified gunmen shot dead Wandile Mkhize, the ANC chief whip at Ugu District municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province. Four months later Obuti Chika, ANC's regional secretary in the North West Province, was killed outside his house in Klerksdorp in the province. Death threats have become part of politics in the country. Just before Msibi was murdered, two MPs at the Parliamentarian Ethics Committee received death threats, prompting the ANC to issue a warning. Former Communications Minister Dina Pule is suspected of being implicated in the death threats. The Parliamentary Ethics Committee ruled last week that Pule was guilty of misconduct and lying as she abused her position as communications minister to improperly benefit her boyfriend Phosane Mngqibisa. "We view these threats in serious light as they are clearly calculated to undermine the authority of the parliament and its functional organs and to paralyses a parliamentary sanctioned process," the ANC said. The party called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate this matter and bring to book those who are behind this despicable intention.