Expert team to probe KZN politician's murder

Political tension is ratcheting up in KwaZulu-Natal after police confirmed that a special political violence task team had been set up to investigate the murder of the ANC’s eThekwini regional secretary, Sbu Sibiya.

Sibiya was gunned down outside his Inanda home on Monday night at about 10. Family members found him in his driveway with a bullet wound to the head and three to the body.

Police spokesperson Phindile Radebe refused to comment on the investigation, saying only that it was “going very well”.

The murder has led to much speculation and paranoia in political circles about “plots” and “political assassinations”, not least within the provincial ANC, which has experienced dissension and conflict in recent months.

Leading up to the municipal elections in May this year, ANC members and branches expressed dissatisfaction with the allegedly unprocedural manner in which lists for ward candidates were drawn up.

There were allegations that the eThekwini regional leadership had ignored the communities’ wishes and had unilaterally replaced popular candidates with cronies.

There is also simmering tension between the eThekwini region and provincial leaders over posts, including that of city mayor, which was eventually filled by the region’s choice, James Nxumalo.

With regions needing to elect new leadership before the provincial elective conference later this year, control of eThekwini—the ANC region with one of the largest memberships in the country—will be vital to who leads both the province and the ANC nationally.