The African National Congress has described media reports that the murder of Noby Ngomane, Free State premier Beatrice Marshoff’s special adviser, was plotted by ANC comrades, as ”rubbish”.
ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said on Sunday that the media were ”creating a decoy” in the investigation of Ngomane’s death.
”These allegations are from the media who are trying to create a decoy from proper investigations that should be done.
”If they have information about Ngomane’s assassination, they should forward it to the police and not suggest that people in the ANC are involved as if they know who exactly assassinated Ngomane,” said Ngonyama.
Ngomane (38) was shot dead in his driveway on Tuesday by gunmen at his home in Bloemfontein’s Hillsboro suburb.
The killing of the man who was believed to be the power behind Marshoff came a day before the announcement of a provincial executive council reshuffle.
The City Press newspaper on Sunday quoted unidentified top ANC officials who said they believed Ngomane may have been killed by an anti-Marshoff faction in the party.
This group has been embroiled in bitter battles with Marshoff’s supporters since the premier’s appointment by President Thabo Mbeki in June last year.
Ngomane, who was to be a key state witness in a corruption case against senior government officials, is believed to have also been behind the reshuffle which would have seen top ANC officials lose their jobs.
Asked whether there was going to be an investigation within the ANC into the allegation, Ngonyama said that was a task best left to the police.
”It is up to the police to follow up on these rubbish allegations. No matter what confusion has been created by some sections of the media, we are going to work very hard to uncover the people behind the assassination of Ngomane,” said Ngonyama.
On Monday, a few hundred people arrived for the funeral service of Ngombane at the Boet Trotskie Hall in Bloemfontein.
Among those attending his funeral were Marshoff, former Free State Premier Winkie Direko, Free State ANC chairperson Ace Magashule and several MECs and senior officials of the alliance parties. – Sapa