THE assassination of councillors in KZN remains the biggest headache ahead of the 2024 general elections.
KZN South African Local Government Association (Salga) chairman, Thami Ntuli, said the state of killings of councillors is slowly descending into political violence.
From November 2021, 18 councillors have been assassinated in KZN.
The latest incident is the killing of DA councillor, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, who was shot and killed at his home on Wednesday, 6 December.
Speaking during a media briefing at Salga offices in Durban on Wednesday, 27 December Ntuli said: “Figures collected from KZN municipalities since November 2021 reveal that it's now undeniable that assassination is the leading cause of death in KZN. Out of 40 councillors who died, 18 were assassinated, 17 died of natural causes, three died from car accidents and two were suicide,” said Ntuli.
He said what worries them the most is that not much has been done to ensure the masterminds who plan these killings are arrested.
ALSO READ | RIP: Parliament mourns one of their own
“We are pleased with the progress to see assassinators being arrested, but we are not pleased with the progress that is made to get the real mastermind who plans these killings,” said Ntuli.
He said the prevalence of violence and killings don't happen in isolation of a culture which normalises a culture of interference, attempts to unduly influence and intimidation.
“In reported instances, the management of some municipalities has been taken hostage and forced to sign agreements before they were released. And those blocking sometimes end up being killed,” said Ntuli.
The rise in the killing of women and children in the province wasn’t spared as well.
Salga Women Commissioner, Queen Xulu said they are worried about the rise in the killing of women and children. She said as a mother it always touches her to learn about the killing of women and children.
“We are not sitting down. We are currently doing an izimbizo in rural areas where we're engaging mostly men. We encourage them to speak out so that when we come up with a solution, we know what exactly is needed,” said Xulu.
