THE EFF in Tshwane is deeply concerned about the tragic loss of Ndebele Chief Duvazi Joe Mushwana (46).
They've described his death as an assassination. Mushwana was shot and killed in his home at Haakdoring Laagte, Wallmansthal in Tshwane on Sunday, 31 December 2023.
The sad incident happened during a New Year's Eve celebration.
In a statement, EFF Regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu said the EFF in Tshwane deeply laments the recent tragic occurrences in the city.
"The horrifying sequence of events unfolded on New Year's Eve, turning a time of celebration into a scene of chaos and mourning. Mushwana, with an unidentified individual, was brutally murdered during a violent shooting incident at Haakdoring Laagte," he said.
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He said the heinous act, committed by three armed individuals hiding behind balaclavas and gloves, shattered the peace of the evening, claiming the life of the chief at the scene.
"The incident has not only caused physical harm but also psychological trauma to the Tshwane community," he said.
Ramabodu said the joyful festivities of the New Year were replaced with fear and sorrow.
"The ANC crime prevention wardens, deployed by the Gauteng provincial government, have proved ineffective in preventing such incidents.
"The EFF in Tshwane asserts that crime has skyrocketed under the ANC led government, reaching alarmingly high levels in our communities," he said.
He said apart from failing to provide basic services such as water, electricity, waste removal, and road maintenance, ANC has been unsuccessful in safeguarding communities from the rampant spread of illegal firearms and senseless killings.
"We have consistently called for the Tshwane municipality to implement safety measures such as the installation of streetlights and surveillance cameras. Our plea has largely been ignored. We implore the responsible authorities to act swiftly for the safety of our residents," said Ramabodu.
He said they call on SAPS and TMPD to conduct intensive stop and search programs in search of illegal firearms, to improve the safety of communities in the municipality. Furthermore, he said visibility of police should be increased to stop potential criminals.
In a separate incident, Rietgat police were called to a shooting incident in Soshanguve Jukulyn, Tshwane in the early hours of Monday morning, 1 January. Four people were shot dead in that incident.
The EFF expressed its sincere condolences to the victims, the Ndebele community and the families of the mass shootings.
