Cops mum on motive for Cope murder

Limpopo police declined to speculate on rumours that Cope MP Jack Tolo's killing was politically motivated.

"We don't want to venture an opinion... Our focus is on catching the people responsible," said Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

No arrests had been made yet.

Congress of the People (Cope) Limpopo leader Solly Mkhatshwa told Beeld newspaper that Tolo's murder did not appear to be a normal robbery.

"He was shot twice in the back of his head with his assailants not talking a word to him. Only afterwards they asked his wife if there was money in the house," Mkhatshwa told the Afrikaans daily in a report on Tuesday.

National Cope spokesman Phillip Dexter said it was up to the police to establish the motive for the killing.

He said Tolo was not aligned to any faction within the party, but was a "loyal member" of Cope.

On Monday morning, Tolo, 63, his wife and two daughters were tied up with copper wire by four armed men, three of whom were wearing balaclavas.

The robbers ransacked the house and stole R7,000, jewellery and four cell phones.

"Without any provocation, the alleged robbers executed Tolo while the other three family members were left unhurt," Mulaudzi said on Monday.

Tolo served in Parliament following the 1994 elections. After the 2009 elections he left the ANC to join Cope.