Splits in the African National Congress during local elections continue to plague the Durban township of Umlazi, with violent infighting resulting in at least three deaths.
At the centre of the conflict is Bhekisasa Xulu, whose election as ANC ward councillor a group of residents unsuccessfully tried to stop.
Xulu’s associates are accused of waging a reign of terror in Umlazi’s Esection, targeting those who voted for independent candidate Zamani Mthethwa.
Last week saw the funeral of Mazwi Zulu, killed by unknown assassins while on his way to work two weeks ago.
Said Mthethwa: ”Mazwi was my right-hand man and was instrumental to my period of campaigning. There is a rumour going round that I and my inner circle are on a hit list.
”People who voted for me have guns fired outside their homes at night and are being verbally abused. One is constantly living in fear. I feel like I am wild game, because I don’t have any guards and I am unprotected.”
Xulu denied the allegations. ”I don’t know of any hit list. In fact, Mthethwa’s supporters are the ones threatening the community. The issue is that Mthethwa doesn’t want to accept that he was defeated in the elections.”
He said his house had been under 24-hour police surveillance since March 2, after threats that it would be burnt down.
Umlazi police spokesperson Captain Vincent Mdunge said the police had called a meeting between the two groups this week because ”there are a number of cases registered with the police that emanated from the matter of local government election results. They include assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and murder.”
A number of killings have been linked to the conflict since the election, including that of policeman Sinethembe Myeni in April and Bheki Magubane in March.
Monica Ngcobo was shot dead by police who fired weapons during a protest by the anti-Xulu faction on March 2. She was apparently not part of the protest.
Mdunge said that agreement was reached at the first meeting to include ”critical stakeholders” — including representatives from the ANC’s regional structures, senior members from the city council, representatives from the two factions and the police — in future discussions.
”We have agreed in principle that the peace process does not suggest these people are involved in any of the cases we are investigating. We will continue to investigate, search and arrest those responsible,” he said.