Thulani Mashaba, ANC Regional Chairperson for the Musa Dladla Region and uThungulu District Municipality Deputy Mayor has died in a car crash.
According to the Zululand Observer, Mashaba was travelling to Richard's Bay from the King Shaka Airport at around 10pm Thursday night, when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The car rolled several times, ejecting its occupants.
Mashaba was killed, and both of his bodyguards have been left in critical condition.
What caused the accident is still under investigation.
Earlier this year it was reported that the Hawks were investigating a plot to kill Mashaba.
According to a Sunday Times report (Paywall), an alleged hit-man was shot and killed in a gun battle in Hluluwe.
"Police recovered some damning evidence from the [dead] hit man's cellphone," said a Hawks officer who referred further queries to his commander, Major-General Johan Booysen.
"It's nothing new. It's been going on for some time, even before our regional conference," Mashaba said at the time.
“I think it’s now the third attempt. It started last year when two heavily armed people broke into my house while I was asleep and stole my documents and left everything else. There was then a fire which I managed to escape.
“The provincial leadership knows.”
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