/ 10 October 2012

KZN ANC vows to ‘boot out the rot’ after series of murders

KwaZulu-Natal ANC chair Zweli Mkhize.
KwaZulu-Natal ANC chair Zweli Mkhize.

"This remains unacceptable and the ANC has taken a step to suspend or terminate membership of those implicated in the situation," provincial chairperson Zweli Mkhize said in a statement.

"The killings are the work of misguided criminal elements in our ranks who are driven by greed and self-interest, and their motives are limited and localised within a few plotters."

Mkhize said the killings of ANC leaders reported so far did not follow the trend of known, open conflict among party members.

"The ANC can ill-afford the development of the culture of the underworld, criminality and violent elimination of opponents … Neither can the ANC afford the association of political appointment to self-enrichment where ascendancy to office is not linked with capacity, competence and dedicated service to our people," said Mkhize.

'Hooligans'
The party had stepped up the awareness of all members and communities in general to root out the "hooligans".

Effective screening would be done to "boot out the rot".

Speaking at the funeral of Oshabeni branch chairperson Dumisani Malunga and branch secretary Bheki Chiliza, Mkhize said the ANC apologised for the misconduct of individuals.

Malunga and Chiliza were shot dead while driving in Oshabeni, near Port Shepstone, on September 16.

Three men have been arrested in connection with the murders.

"The episodes do not represent a crisis, but need to be rapidly stamped out … They also represent a tendency to disregard law and order, and extreme greed," he said. – Sapa