Grief and shock after killing of Bishop Tolo

TRIBUTES continue to pour in for the late Cope MP, Bishop Jack Tolo, who was murdered in Limpopo on Monday morning.

Tolo, 63, was shot dead by unknown people at his home in GaMasha village in the Sekhukhune area.

He was killed execution-style in front of his wife after they were both tied with plastic straps. The four men who had broken into the house made off with R7000 cash and four cellphones after shooting the defenceless parliamentarian.

Tolo was scheduled to leave for Cape Town that morning.

Yesterday, Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota visited Tolo's home to convey his condolences to the bereaved family.

"Though we may not pre-empt the outcome of police investigations into the killing of our beloved comrade, we need to keep faith and believe that they will finally crack the case."

Lekota said it was too early to tell whether Tolo's killing was politically motivated or a robbery.

While the family said it believed his killing was an act of robbery, some Cope members believe it was a political assassination.

Family spokesperson and Tolo's son, Kubane, said the funeral would be held in the village on Sunday.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, said yesterday police were "following every lead to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book" .

Meanwhile, the South African Council of Churches in Limpopo yesterday also joined multitudes in wishing the Tolo family strength during their time of grief.

Provincial ecumenical secretary, Sejanamane Mashilo, said Tolo's killing was not only shocking to his family but also to the church and the society Tolo was working with.

"Whether his murder was crime-related or otherwise, we can neither condone nor tolerate a situation of killing such a highly respected community leader."