Another ANC leader has been gunned down just outside his house in Mpumalanga in what his friends say was a political hit.
ANC deputy chairman in Pienaar's Ward 23, Michael "Zane" Phelembe, was shot outside his home on Friday night. His death brings to 10 the number of the alleged political hits that have so far not been resolved in Mpumalanga in recent years.
In February two people were killed in Pienaar during protests by dissatisfied ANC members over the nomination process of candidates for local elections.
Phelembe's close friend Jealous Nyalunga told Sowetan that he now also feared for his life.
"This is clearly political, it was not just a random crime. Zane has been saying there are people, whom he called by their names, who were after his life.
"Zane stood by the ideas he believed in and was against manipulation of the ANC processes, especially on councillors' nominations," said Nyalunga.
"Yes, we are scared, we know that these people who killed him know that he was telling us everything. There was a time when they threatened to burn his house and he went into hiding," said Nyalunga.
Phelembe's death and Nyalunga's claims came as the ANC was concluding its national list conference in Irene, Pretoria. In recent years, Mpumalanga has been notorious for suspected political killings.
In March, Moreko Mahlobogoana, who was working for the finance department in the Dr JS Moroka local municipality, was shot once in the head and left in the cemetery in an attack believed to be politically motivated.
The political killings - which were also known as January murders - attracted the attention of former national police commissioner Bheki Cele, who appointed 12 highly trained investigators to probe the deaths. However, no report was released after the investigations.
Suspended former provincial executive committee member of the ANC, Peter Nyoni, said the party had lost a dedicated member who was also a promising leader.
"This young man was a promising leader whom the ANC needed at these trying times of the party," said Nyoni.
Spokeswoman for the Pienaar police Lieutenant Jabu Ndubane told Sowetan that Phelembe died at the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic after he was shot once in the head.
"Police got information on Friday night that the deceased has been shot outside the gate of his home on Friday night.
"Upon [police] arrival at the crime scene, the deceased was sent to the Medi-Clinic where he died. Police are investigating a murder charge, but no one has been arrested yet.
"We are asking for anyone with information to help us with the investigation," said Ndubane.
Ndubane could neither confirm nor deny that the death was political.
Efforts to speak to the Ehlanzeni ANC regional leadership were fruitless as the party's secretary Phazamisa Mathe's phone was off.
Another ANC leader is gunned down
Another ANC leader has been gunned down just outside his house in Mpumalanga in what his friends say was a political hit.
ANC deputy chairman in Pienaar's Ward 23, Michael "Zane" Phelembe, was shot outside his home on Friday night. His death brings to 10 the number of the alleged political hits that have so far not been resolved in Mpumalanga in recent years.
In February two people were killed in Pienaar during protests by dissatisfied ANC members over the nomination process of candidates for local elections.
Phelembe's close friend Jealous Nyalunga told Sowetan that he now also feared for his life.
"This is clearly political, it was not just a random crime. Zane has been saying there are people, whom he called by their names, who were after his life.
"Zane stood by the ideas he believed in and was against manipulation of the ANC processes, especially on councillors' nominations," said Nyalunga.
"Yes, we are scared, we know that these people who killed him know that he was telling us everything. There was a time when they threatened to burn his house and he went into hiding," said Nyalunga.
Phelembe's death and Nyalunga's claims came as the ANC was concluding its national list conference in Irene, Pretoria. In recent years, Mpumalanga has been notorious for suspected political killings.
In March, Moreko Mahlobogoana, who was working for the finance department in the Dr JS Moroka local municipality, was shot once in the head and left in the cemetery in an attack believed to be politically motivated.
The political killings - which were also known as January murders - attracted the attention of former national police commissioner Bheki Cele, who appointed 12 highly trained investigators to probe the deaths. However, no report was released after the investigations.
Suspended former provincial executive committee member of the ANC, Peter Nyoni, said the party had lost a dedicated member who was also a promising leader.
"This young man was a promising leader whom the ANC needed at these trying times of the party," said Nyoni.
Spokeswoman for the Pienaar police Lieutenant Jabu Ndubane told Sowetan that Phelembe died at the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic after he was shot once in the head.
"Police got information on Friday night that the deceased has been shot outside the gate of his home on Friday night.
"Upon [police] arrival at the crime scene, the deceased was sent to the Medi-Clinic where he died. Police are investigating a murder charge, but no one has been arrested yet.
"We are asking for anyone with information to help us with the investigation," said Ndubane.
Ndubane could neither confirm nor deny that the death was political.
Efforts to speak to the Ehlanzeni ANC regional leadership were fruitless as the party's secretary Phazamisa Mathe's phone was off.
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