An ANC ward councillor has been killed in Umzimkhulu, in southern KwaZulu-Natal, only a month after the murder of the town council's speaker.
Umzimkhulu councillor Mduduzi Shibase, 39, was gunned down on Tuesday night, exactly a month after Khaya Thobela, speaker and ANC deputy secretary of the Harry Gwala region, was shot dead.
ANC spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli called on transport, community safety and liaison MEC Mxolisi Kaunda to intervene urgently in the security crisis faced by councillors in the province "as it is clear that there is a systematic way of eliminating ANC leaders".
He said that Shibase, who was killed when he arrived at his homestead in Gugwini, in ward 14, grew up in the ranks of the ANC Youth League.
"The ANC calls on the people of Umzimkhulu to be calm and report incidents of violence to the police so that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes will be brought to book.
"The ANC wants to place on record that these gruesome killings will not deter it," said Ntuli.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for co-operative governance Nomusa Dube-Ncube condemned Shibase's killing yesterday.
"It is with outrage that we react to the killing of yet another elected public representative in our local government. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family," Dube-Ncube said.
"We urge the law enforcement agencies to investigate this murder with speed and apprehend those responsible without delay.
"We also urge the local community to remain calm as this investigation unfolds."
Shibase's murder is just the latest in a string of political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.
Khayelihle Mgcwaba, a former ward councillor, was shot dead in his home in the Machunwini area last week.
His wife and two suspected accomplices, aged 26 to 33, were arrested and charged with murder.