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SHOCKED: Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed shock at the death of KwaZulu-Natal ANC politician Wandile Mkhize. PHOTO: MOHAU MOFOKENG

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Mbalula, who is a member of the ANC's national executive committee, has expressed shock and sadness at the death of the former ANC Youth League member.

In an SMS sent to Mbalula on Saturday night, the ANC chief whip in the Ugu district municipality speaks of contestations for positions within the ANC and how the leaders need to unite.

"The more time we spend against each other the more we put our country in crisis. Am worried that if we collectively don't rise above what divides us, Mangaung will be worse than Polokwane and our movement and country will be at great risk," part of the SMS, which Mbalula confirmed receiving, reads.

"Mtchana I can [do] whatever I can to either bring JZ [President Jacob Zuma] on board, or some senior leaders of KZN. Our movement lost the likes of [Jabu] Moleketi and many brains after Polokwane, we can't afford to lose or sideline anyone anymore. We need u all."

The ANC Youth League is campaigning for Mbalula to be elected ANC secretary-general in December.

Yesterday, Mbalula told Sowetan that Mkhize, 34, had sent him several other SMSes where he raised concerns on divisions within the party, saying they must "take action on leadership issues".

These were a reflection of an interaction the two had when they saw each other at the four-day ANC policy conference last week.

"That SMS shows what kind of individual Mkhize was."

Mbalula said his interaction with Mkhize demonstrated that he was a "genuine comrade" who wanted to get rid of divisions in the party.

"He loved the ANC and didn't send the SMSes for anything else but the love of the ANC. He believed we didn't need to go to Mangaung in December and fight over leadership," Mbalula said.

"I obviously feel bad because I did not manage to reply."

Mbalula said he would pursue Mkhize's philosophy of unity, saying that was very important.

"We will have to sit and talk on the challenges within the party," he said, without going into details about the nature of these problems ravaging the ANC.

Mbalula said Mkhize was the last person he spoke to and hugged at the conclusion of the policy conference held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. He described his former youth league comrade as "very intelligent".

Mkhize was gunned down outside his Manaba home on Saturday night, barely an hour after his return.

It emerged yesterday that he had warned police that he was receiving death threats but this allegedly landed on deaf ears.

ANC South Coast regional secretary Mzwandile Mkhwanazi was one of the last people to see Mkhize alive when he dropped him off at about 10pm.

Police are investigating the killing. - nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 20:59:46 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 3, 2012

Wanani

Fikile, I believe you can do better at the Secretary position and you deserve it. You have my support
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Jul 3, 2012

takoskonvict

SLAIN KwaZulu-Natal ANC politician Wandile Mkhize had asked Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to help him mend cracks within the party just hours before he was gunned down.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

it is not rocket science: cracks in the Anc are the result of tribalism. There is this tribe that feels superior, a tribe that sees other tribes as animals or izilwane, a tribe that resorts to violent under minor confrontation, a tribe that is not scared of blood- THIS IS THE TRIBE THAT IS CAUSING HAVOC TO THE ANC.
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Jul 3, 2012

Stumtum

@Wanani
Please tell me what has Mr Mbalula done to convince you that he is gonna be a great SG. Kindly educate me.
@Takoskonvict
Your tribal insinuations are disturbing because the sad thing that is happening in KZN also happens in other provinces like MP and NW.

People lets engage in a level of thinkers not populists.
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Jul 3, 2012

ThirdEye

Why the police always ignore if someone alert them that they are receiving death threat? Eventually, people die even though such things could've been prevented?

Honestly, this thing of killing each other in the ANC has turned to be a trend, it scares me. We are IFP now.
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Jul 3, 2012

MicaParis

We do not want to talk too much on this issue, let us wait for the Police to do their work on this! Let us hope that the truth is revealed! We do not want to see South Africa going the same way as countries like Rwanda, DRC, Nigeria and Uganda were politically motivated killings hit the rafters. Let us protect democracy that Comrade Mandela left us to prevail, the democracy which took the world by the storm, propelled by a Constitution which is number one and arguably the best in the world! Let us pray to God for all this historical legacy to remain save and protected for ever, we do not need political and Government instability in our country.
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Jul 3, 2012

nkomazi

They are fighting for power

remove tenders from politicians.




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Jul 3, 2012

Mokgaditse

Only if we can support ANC not people,then ANC will survive.We must have the love of ANC like Mkhize,he was a true comrade who I think did not support anybody but ANC. He was not tribalist, like he said if they are not careful Mangaung will be worse than Polokwane and true as he said, we may see another party coming out of the conference if people does not accept defeat. Zuma and some of the leaders are dividing ANC by the taking sides and appoint people to higher position without require skilled for that job, hence his resuffling of his cabinet. How many times must he resuffle before he get perfoming people, if he he gets second term I tell you we are going done slowly.
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Jul 3, 2012

Charley4sure

The ANC has been the sold to the dogs and Zuma as the Mafia. IFP
Agents have come with their tendencies to the movement. The
incompetent leader of the ANC of OR Tambo who speaks an inferior
language is to blame for the circus in the liberation movement. The
sooner they get rid of him the better. ANC has survive without IFP
Agents, they called us Mandela’s boys today they want to act as
holy cows and pretend they belong to our movement. The president
must just shuffle himself.

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Jul 3, 2012

imbabazane

...Ahhhh, so this is the "Mkhize" ? been hearing about him for months now, ewu hhe...Rest in Peace Mzukulu ka Gubhela, but ke isiZulu siyasho sithi Zibanjwa kweziwudlayo.

The fact ukuthi you were asking Mbalula to help tells me ukuthi you were "swimming against the current" as far as KZN politics are concerned. If you looking for solutions there are many Elder non-partisan Comrades you can speak to...not uMbalula, meaning ukuthi nawe ubuchemile njengaye uMbalula ndini lo.
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Jul 3, 2012

Nwanawamukalaha

Mkhize was gunned down outside his Manaba home on Saturday night, barely an hour after his return.

Police are investigating the killing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why investigate if you didn't have the guts to serve and protect the life of a leader?

There will never be a solution or finding as to who killed himm for as long as it's a political killing. The same guys/police who'll be investigate might be part of the bigger elimination team.

Zulus (KZN) and Ndebeles (Mpumalanga) for you - they take your life if you don't comply.

Rest in peace comrade Wandile Mkhize.
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