The African National Congress (ANC) chief whip in the Ehlanzeni district municipality in Mpumalanga was killed in the Mhala district in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
Johan Holme Ndlovu was shot a few kilometres from his home in the chest, left hand and buttocks, Captain Leonard Hlathi said.
Ndlovu’s body was found by family members in some bush after an unidentified man told his wife where to find him.
“In the early hours of the morning, his [Ndlovu’s] wife allegedly called her husband on his cellphone but another man answered,” he said.
“While she was checking the number she dialled, the man phoned her back from her husband’s cellphone and told her that if she was looking for her husband she must go to a certain bush where she will find him.”
Ndlovu’s wife called family members who went to check the area but they could not find him. They went back at about 5am and found his body, Hlathi said.
Police were investigating a case of murder.
Ndlovu’s white Toyota 2002 Corolla, registration BWF048MP, was missing.
Police asked anyone with information about the whereabouts of the car to contact their nearest police station. — Sapa