OWN CORRESPONDENT, DURBAN | Tuesday 12.30pm.
THE son of suspended Inkatha Freedom Party politician and local warlord Thomas Shabalala has been arrested for attempted murder in connection with a spate of violence in Lindelani near Durban.
Mbuso Percival Shabalala (26) was arrested on Tuesday on two charges of attempted murder in connection with attacks which happened on July 26 and August 21 in which he allegedly shot and wounded two men.
Shabalala is alleged to have been part of a gang which attacked Simon Qwabe, 59, at his home in Lindelani’s N-section on July 26. He and a companion also allegedly shot and wounded Themba Hadebe, 30, in the leg as he walked in the suburb’s C-section at 9.30pm on August 21.
Shabalala appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody until October 20 to allow police to complete their investigations.
His father is thought to be involved in a power struggle for control of the area with Michael Zulu, the elected IFP leader in the area. Shabalala has denied any conflict with Zulu.
Thomas Shabalala is a known associate of the Richmond warlord Sifiso Nkabinde, who was released from custody after being exonerated on 18 counts of murder earlier this year. Nkabinde was dumped from the ANC last year as an alleged apartheid spy.
A spate of violence in the Richmond area followed Nkabinde’s release in August, requiring the government to send a heavy police and military force into the area to gain control.