The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli has condemned in the strongest possible terms the brutal murder of eThekwini Municipality Councillor Sibusiso Khwela, who was shot and killed at his offices in Klaarwater, west of Durban, on Thursday.

Premier Ntuli has described the killing as a senseless and deeply disturbing act of violence against a public representative who was dedicated to serving his community.

The murder of Councillor Khwela once again brings into sharp focus the scourge of political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, with at least 18 councillors having been assassinated across the province since the 2021 Local Government Elections.

The municipality-level figures show that eThekwini Municipality has recorded five councillor assassinations, while uMngeni, Mkhambathini and Newcastle have each recorded two. A further councillor was assassinated in each of uMsunduzi, uMzumbe, Endumeni, Abaqulusi, Nongoma, uMvotiand uMhlathuze.

These killings demonstrate that political violence is not confined to one area of the province and continue to pose a serious threat to local democracy, public representatives and the ability of municipalities to effectively serve their communities.

In October 2023, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs was informed that 16 incidents involving councillors and municipal officials had been recorded in KwaZulu-Natal since the 2021 municipal elections, making the province the epicentre of such killings at the time.

Premier Ntuli said the continued assassination of councillors cannot be treated merely as ordinary criminal incidents, as every such killing has consequences for local democracy and service delivery.

“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the brutal murder of Councillor Sibusiso Khwela. A councillor is elected to serve the people, listen to their concerns and assist communities in accessing government services.

“It is particularly disturbing that Councillor Khwela was killed while carrying out his responsibilities to the very community he had committed himself to serving.

“The killing of councillors is not only a tragedy for their families and political organisations. It is also a direct loss to the communities they serve. When a councillor is murdered, communities lose a representative, a link to municipal government and an important facilitator of service delivery.

“Political killings therefore rob our communities of the opportunity to receive speedy and effective service delivery. We cannot allow criminality and violence to undermine local government and our democratic institutions,” said Premier Ntuli.

The Premier has called on the South African Police Service and all relevant law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to identify, apprehend and bring to justice those responsible for Councillor Khwela's murder.

Premier Ntuli welcomed the deployment of the SAPS Political Killings Task Team to investigate the matter and urged the investigating team to work swiftly and thoroughly to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.

The Premier has also appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could assist the investigation to come forward and report such information to the police.

“We appeal to anyone who may have information about this tragic incident to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. We urge people who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist investigators, to report it to the police.

“Silence only gives criminals an advantage. The people of KwaZulu-Natal must work together with the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” said Premier Ntuli.

CALL FOR CALM AS KWAZULU-NATAL APPROACHES LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

Premier Ntuli has called for calm, political tolerance and peaceful coexistence across KwaZulu-Natal as the province and the country approach the next Local Government Elections.
He said political competition and differences must never become a justification for violence, intimidation or assassination.

“As we approach the Local Government Elections, we must send a clear and unequivocal message that KwaZulu-Natal rejects political violence.

“Our province has made significant progress in moving beyond the painful history of political violence. We cannot allow the killing of councillors and political representatives to reverse that progress.

“Political parties, community leaders, civil society organisations and ordinary residents all have a responsibility to promote peace, tolerance and harmony. Political differences must be settled through democratic processes and not through violence.

“We want a peaceful and harmonious KwaZulu-Natal where every political party can campaign freely, where citizens can exercise their democratic rights without fear, and where councillors and other public representatives can serve their communities without fearing for their lives,” said Premier Ntuli.

The Premier further emphasised that protecting public representatives is inseparable from protecting the communities they serve.
He said councillors are often the first point of contact between residents and local government and play an important role in identifying community needs, facilitating access to municipal services and ensuring that residents' concerns reach the relevant authorities.

“When we kill councillors, we do not only take away an individual from their family and loved ones. We weaken the local government system and deprive communities of people who are responsible for representing their interests.
“We therefore have a collective responsibility to protect our democracy, protect human life and ensure that our municipalities remain functional and accessible to the people,” said Premier Ntuli.

Premier Ntuli has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Councillor Khwela, as well as to the African National Congress (ANC) and the community he served.

“On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, I extend our deepest condolences to the Khwela family, his colleagues and comrades in the ANC, and the residents of the community he served.

“We mourn the loss of a public servant who dedicated himself to serving his community. During this difficult period, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and all those who knew and worked with him.
“May they find strength and comfort during this painful time. We reiterate our commitment to working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.
“May the soul of Councillor Sibusiso Khwela rest in peace,” said Premier Ntuli.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government will continue to work with law enforcement agencies, municipalities, political parties, community structures and other stakeholders to strengthen public safety, protect public representatives and promote peace and stability throughout the province.

ENDS

ISSUED BY KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT