Mthembeni Shezi, an eThekwini ward councillor and chairman of the Welbedacht ANC branch, died from bullet wounds yesterday morning.

His deputy, Sbu Mpanza, and a ward committee member, Bulelani Mjoli, are in a critical but stable condition.

The three were shot by unknown assailants, who barged into an extended branch executive committee meeting outside Durban and opened fire.

ANC regional leaders - including MEC for health and eThekwini regional chairma n Sibongiseni Dhlomo and eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo - rushed to the hospital upon hearing about the shooting.

Shezi was shot in the chest, head, legs and hands. Mpanza sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and Mjoli was shot in the head.

ANC provincial spokesman Senzo Mkhize said party members were saddened by Shezi's death.

He said there seemed to be an organised plot to destabilise the ANC in the province.

National ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu called for a special commission into the killings.

"They are too frequent and, in our view, they are political. Our view may not be backed by any proof," he said.

The shooting of the trio comes less than three weeks after the killing of Oshabeni branch chairman Dumisani Malunga and secretary Bheki Chiliza.