The South African Communist Party in Mpumalanga suspects that the attempted hijacking of provincial minister Madala Masuku — the fourth attack on him this year — is linked to rumours that he is tipped to replace David Mabuza as premier.
Masuku — a member of the SACP’s central committee, who was provincial human settlements minister before Mabuza appointed him minister for cooperative governance and traditional affairs — was shot at while travelling to Johannesburg on the night of October 18.
He was not harmed, but the attackers took his car keys, a firearm from one of his two bodyguards and cellphones.
“This is the fourth attack on Masuku this year and it all started when the premiership rumour was reported before the Fifa World Cup,” said provincial SACP spokesman Lesetja Dikgale.
He urged Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to establish a task team to investigate the spate of political assassinations and intimidation in Mpumalanga.
“We demand action against this political thuggery, which has become law in this province. We are tired of the silence while comrades are murdered and intimidated by politicians and tenderpreneurs who want to use state resources to get rich,” said Dikgale.
Investigation underway
The spokesperson for the Mpumalanga police, Captain Leonard Hlathi, confirmed that police were investigating a case of robbery and attempted murder. “No one has been arrested yet and we ask community members to report to the police if they have any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.”
ANC national spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the ANC had no plans to replace Mabuza as premier.
“This has never been discussed in any ANC meeting. I have never heard anyone talking about a rumour that Masuku is tipped to replace Mabuza as premier. That is news to us,” he said.
Masuku’s spokesperson, Obed Nkosi, also rejected rumours that Masuku was next in line as premier.
“He has no ambition to become a premier of the province,” he said.
No political motivation
Masuku could not be contacted for comment, but in an earlier interview with African Eye News Service, he said he didn’t believe that his attack was politically motivated.
He said he believed that his status as an MEC might have saved him.
“I told them [the attackers] who I was and they seemed overwhelmed and reluctant to harm us,” he said.
Earlier this year, the SACP claimed that Masuku was followed by strangers after the murder of provincial executive committee member Bomber Ntshangase.
The SACP also had to organise bodyguards for the party’s provincial secretary, Bonakele Majuba, after his car was trailed by strange vehicles.
Tension within Mpumalanga
Dikgale has blamed the incidents on “tension between the tenderpreneurs and SACP members who speak out against corruption”.
Politicians in Mpumalanga have reason to fear for their lives.
Since 1998 at least 11 people, including politicians and businessmen, have died in suspicious circumstances.
The Congress of the People’s chairman for the Ehlanzeni region, James Nkambule, is believed to be the latest victim following reports that he may have been poisoned.
He collapsed and died at his Barberton home on October 7, a few days before he was scheduled to appear in court for claiming that Mabuza had drafted a hit list of political opponents and that a hit man identified as “Josh” had confessed to him about the plot in sworn statements before fleeing to Swaziland. — African Eye News Service