/ 9 June 2006

Arrests point to political violence

The arrest of two men in connection with the murder of South African Communist Party member Mazwi Zulu in Durban’s troubled Umlazi township tends to contradict African National Congress claims that the violence is criminal rather than political.

Nkosiyabo Ngubane and Sphiwe Nene were arrested at the home of Bhekisasa Xulu, the ANC councillor for Ward 80 who has been under continuous community pressure since his re-election in the March local government poll.

Supporters of Xulu — who was opposed in the election by an independent candidate from ANC ranks, Zamani Mthethwa — have been accused of unleashing a reign of terror on his opponents in Umlazi’s E-section.

Xulu has flatly denied any involvement in the violence, which has claimed at least three lives.

Provincial minister for transport and community safety and liaison Bheki Cele earlier insisted that the violence was “criminal”, and denied that the ANC was divided in the area.

However, councillor Xulu himself suggested a political dynamic. The two men were apparently arrested after police were tipped off by community members, and Xulu said they had been targeted because “one [Ngubane] was my driver while the other [Nene] was at the forefront of the ANC campaign to get me re-elected”.

Zulu was murdered on his way to work last month. The suspects have been remanded in police custody until their bail application hearing on Monday, while residents are said to be drawing up a petition against the granting of bail.

Police spokesperson Inspector Rani John said claims that the suspects had been working through a political hit list was “hearsay at the moment, but we are not ruling out any possibility or lead. The investigations are ongoing.”

The trouble began last year after the ANC re-nominated Xulu to stand as its representative in the local elections. Community members were unhappy with his service delivery record during his 10-year tenure as a councillor, and objected to being excluded from the nomination process because they had not yet received their ANC membership cards.

Some residents claim Xulu and his associates deliberately withheld the cards to ensure his renomination.

Dissident ANC members then nominated Mthethwa to stand against Xulu as an independent candidate. Mthethwa lost, but his supporters claimed Xulu and his associates committed electoral fraud. During a protest march on March 2, Monica Ncgobo, a bystander, was allegedly shot dead by police while they were trying to disperse the crowd.

Xulu said he had received threats that his house — under 24-hour police surveillance since March 2 — would be burnt down.

The violence claimed the lives of SACP member and anti-Xulu community leader Sinethembe Myeni in April and Xulu associate Bheki Magubane in March. Last week’s ambush and attempted murder of Xulu opponent Goodwill Sithole has also been linked to the infighting.