INKOSI Mandlakayise Nxumalo of the Zwide clan is the latest chief to be gunned down in KZN.
The 71-year-old from Nazareth in Ladysmith was shot dead by unknown men outside a traditional court on Tuesday, 22 March. His death brings to 42 the number of traditional leaders who have been killed in KZN since January 2019.
So far, 35 izinduna and seven amakhosi have been killed.
But there have only been two successful arrests.
KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka said the ongoing attack on traditional leaders was concerning as they were trying hard to work with law enforcement agencies to end it.
Hlomuka said they were shocked to learn about Nxumalo’s brutal murder and called on law enforcement agencies to arrest those who were responsible.
“Cogta has been actively engaged with the issue of safety concerns raised by amakhosi. We have been working together with law enforcement agencies and sister departments to come up with ways to deal with concerns raised by amakhosi.”
He said they had noted the work done by law enforcement agencies to arrest those responsible for the attacks.
DA KZN Cogta spokesman Martin Meyer called for swift action by the new community safety intervention unit (CSIU) that was established to deal with the rise in killings of amakhosi and izinduna.
“The DA believes that CSIU needs to play a proactive role and investigate why amakhosi and izinduna are being targeted,” said Meyer.
Police spokeswoman Thembeka Mbele said a case of murder was opened.
“The motive for the killing is unknown,” she said.
