PRESSURE is mounting on the police to arrest an IFP councillor in the uMhlathuze municipality who is accused of beating a pensioner to death last month.

Sowetan has learnt that Mandlakayise Shandu allegedly assaulted John Vilakazi, 61, for addressing him as Fofo. Shandu is a ward 29 councillor in Ndabayakhe outside eMpangeni, on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

However, Shandu has described the allegations as a "political ploy" by his political foes to tarnish his reputation. "I am a preacher at my church and subscribe to God's teachings and would never lay a hand on an ant. This is just a ploy by a person who wants my ward.

"I don't even know the person I'm accused of killing, except that he was mentally and physically disturbed. Had I committed a crime, I would have been arrested," he said.

Police spokesperson Captain Thulani Zwane said police were investigating. "At this stage there is nothing tangible that has been found, and we call on community members to come forward with information."