African National Congress Youth League members in the Gert Sibande region, Mpumalanga vented their anger during the provincial launch of the 16 Days of Activism against women and children on Saturday, 26 November in Mkhondo.
They are demanding the arrest of the killers of the deputy chairman, Muzi Manyathi. The 46-year-old was gunned down early this month while he was at a filling station. The members sang struggle songs while the program was still in progress, disrupting proceedings.
Regional secretary, Maqhawe Mlotshwa said the community is angry that no one has been arrested whereas when a tourist was gunned down, suspects were arrested. “A German tourist was shot and killed, the premier and MEC Vusi Shongwe went to visit the crime scene. It took them 48 hours to make an arrest.
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“This was contrary to when the deputy chairperson of the region in Gert Sibande was brutally killed. There are cameras and a footage there, but no one up to this far has been brought to book or questioning. “MEC Vusi Shongwe has never come to this region after the ordeal whilst he is deployed by the same organization.
The premier came and made empty promises. She said they are going to make arrests soon, but no one has been taken in for questioning,"he said
Mlotshwa added that they want Shongwe to be removed from his position because he is not assisting them and other communities. Meanwhile, REC member, Randy Nkonyane added that Shongwe was deployed by the ANC which he can't seat on its caucuses in the constituency of the ANC.
“Today he came here for this event. If they are innocent and know nothing about the death of comrade Muzi Manyathi, why are they acting strange? Why are they not saying anything about the death of Manyathi?” she asked. Nkonyane said ANC leaders in the province know that the death of Manyathi affected the people of Mkhondo the most.
“He might not be important to them, but he was everything to us. Comrade Muzi was not a bully or a master to us, but he was a father to the fatherless in the ANC. We are here to say we want justice for Muzi. We can't have a community safety MEC who comes and brings us artists, whereas we are angry as the people of Mkhondo and we fear for our lives,” she said.
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Responding to the group, Community Safety MEC, Vusi Shongwe said they won't be intimidated by a group of certain people that were sent to derail them from focus.
“They can make noise as much as they want because an empty tin makes a lot of noise. I want to say we are focused and are going to make sure that those who killed Manyathi are found and arrested. “That will be done without the influence of individuals or certain groups, but will be done by the police. I am an MEC not an investigating officer or a police but I work with the police,"he said
