The IFP calls upon the KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Sipho Hlomuka, the MEC Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli, as well as the KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, to immediately establish a Task Team to investigate the killing of izinduna in KwaZulu-Natal.
The IFP’s call follows the assassination of induna Prince Hlabisa, of the Matshamnyama Hlabisa Traditional Council in the uMkhanyakude district. He was murdered on Sunday at his home by unknown gunmen.
Since January 2019, too many izinduna have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal. The IFP demands action from the KZN MECs for COGTA and Community Safety and Liaison, as well as the KZN Premier – they must act swiftly and stop this bloodbath in KZN. The IFP believes that those behind the killing of the izinduna are possibly after the salary that is paid once a person becomes an induna.
It is high time for a task team – similar to the one investigating taxi violence – to be established. The KZN provincial government has a duty to protect its people’s right to life. This bloodbath must stop now, and those responsible for it must be brought to justice.
The lack of action by the KZN MECs for COGTA and Community Safety and Liaison, as well as the KZN Premier, on the killings of the Izinduna, leave much to be desired. If they were truly concerned about these killings, they should have done more than just “[send] … condolences to the families of the deceased”. Condolences without practical action and tangible solutions do not solve the problem at hand – action is needed now.
Izinduna play a pivotal role in maintaining peace and facilitating problem-solving in villages, and, at times, act on behalf of amaKhosi. The KZN Premier and the MEC for COGTA must stop their hypocrisy and do more to protect izinduna. It is a well-known fact that the ANC government only cares about izinduna during elections. Come 2021, the ANC will criss-cross the Province canvassing izinduna, to ensure that people vote for the ANC during the local government elections. However, at the same time, they fail to protect them from being killed. The ANC must stop using izinduna to garner votes during elections.
Further, the IFP would like to know: when will the KZN MEC for COGTA and the Premier be implementing back-pay for the izinduna? A clear time frame must be provided. This issue must be resolved before the 2021 Local Government Elections.
The IFP sends its deepest condolences to the Hlabisa family, and the Hlabisa Traditional Council, and it calls on the police to work around the clock to apprehend induna Hlabisa’s killers.
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Contact:
Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL
IFP KZN Spokesperson for Community Safety and Liaison
078 290 5842