ANC men shot as violence escalates

Another three ANC members - including the chairman of its Welbedacht branch, and his deputy - were shot last night in the continuing political violence in KwaZulu-Natal.

The chairman is also an ANC councillor in the eThekwini region.

KwaZulu-Natal health MEC and eThekwini regional chairman Sibongiseni Dhlomo rushed to RK Khan Hospital last night after learning of the shooting. He said there were no fatalities but refused to elaborate, saying the ruling party would comment at an appropriate time.

It is believed the three men are in a serious condition.

The party's provincial spokesman, Senzo Mkhize, confirmed the shooting.

He said the ANC would issue a statement today after members visited the trio in hospital and their families.

The shooting comes less than three weeks after the killing of Oshabeni branch chairman Dumisani Malunga, 42, and 39-year-old Bheko Chiliza.

The two were killed in a hail of bullets while on their way home from a South Coast ANC meeting to discuss strategies to canvas for votes in preparation for a by-election in the area.

Last week, an Oshabeni ANC Youth League leader pleaded guilty to Malunga's murder.

Sifiso Khumalo told the Pietermaritzburg High Court that Malunga was a "stumbling block to his election as a ward councillor".

However, he blamed his co-accused, Samuel Cele, for being the mastermind behind the murder plot.

Cele has pleaded not guilty to murder and is currently in police custody.

The province has been rocked by a spate of political killings in recent months, prompting police to set up two task teams to investigate the murders.

Khumalo and Cele were arrested less than 24 hours after the double murder.

No arrests have been made yet for the murder of Hibiscus Coast councillor Wandile Mkhize and his friend, Nhlakanipho Shabane, during a drive-by shooting in Manaba, Margate, in June.

Mkhize died on the scene and Shabane died in hospital three weeks later.

Last month, ANC councillor in Umtshezi Jimmy Lembede was shot dead at his home.