Africa-Press – South-Africa. ANC Nelson Mandela Bay Ward 43 councillor Andile Andries and the party’s regional executive committee member and branch secretary Lubabalo Keso were shot dead outside Andries’ home in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, on Monday.
Andries’ uncle and secretary of the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the Eastern Cape, Mthuthuzeli Madwara, said the family is still in disbelief and have no words at this moment.
The Eastern Cape police confirmed the pair were gunned down around midday on Monday. The police said they have launched a manhunt for the alleged murderers of Andries, 45, and Keso, 41.
Whether Andries’ murder is related to a raging taxi war in the Eastern Cape or the ANC ahead of the hotly contested upcoming provincial elective conference is unknown.
Besides politics, Andries was also the deputy general-secretary of the Uncedo Taxi Association nationally and a chair of SANTACO in the Nelson Mandela Bay region.
Asked for comment, the SANTACO chairman in the Eastern Cape Zola Bishop Yolelo said the council has been shocked by the news.
He, however said that details are still sketchy about the incident.
“We are still trying to gather details about the incident. We are not sure whether it is taxi-related or it has something to do with the ANC. We will be able to comment further once we have full details,” said Yolelo.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said the pair were coming out of Andries’ house at the time of the shooting.
Kinana said, “It is further alleged that as they approached their vehicle, a Quantum minibus drove towards them and began firing several shots thereby killing them at the scene. The Quantum vehicle sped off after the incident. The number of the suspects in the drive-by shooting Quantum is not known at this stage.”
He added that the circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.
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“Murder cases have been registered and no arrests made at this stage,” Kinana added.
The SAPS is appealing to anyone who may have information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect(s), to please make contact with the nearest police station or call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.
Eastern Cape Premier and ANC provincial convenor Oscar Mabuyane said the Nelson Mandela Bay region was being turned into a gangster city and has called on the police to help the party in its renewal agenda to rid itself of “bad elements”.
Mabuyane, on behalf of the ANC, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of Andries and Keso.
“Unfortunate news, very sad, this issue, of these execution-style killings are worrying us in the province. We have seen people almost reducing Nelson Mandela region into a gangster city ruled by thugs in the past couple of weeks, especially in the northern areas and black townships,” said Mabuyane.
Mabuyane said some people are making it their profession to kill people in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“This happens a few months after the murder and attempted murder of ANC members in that region. We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms, this should not happen in the free and democratic country, governed by a rule of law,” said Mabuyane.
Ward 20 councillor Zwelandile Booi was gunned down while driving in Tshawuka Street in Kwazakhele on 13 February.
Mayoral co-ordinator and former councillor Mazwi Mini survived a bullet to the jaw on the same weekend.
Mabuyane urged the public to come forward help the police track the suspects behind the murder of Andries and Keso.
“We all need to have sleepless nights thinking about ways to remove these bad elements in Nelson Mandela Bay. We can’t co-exist with criminals. We ought to seek the truths and facts from all these incidents,” Mabuyane added.
Describing the killing of the pair, Mabuyane said it was a clear assassination.
“It is a clear assassination and whatever [motivated] them, it is a well-orchestrated hit motivated by bad tendencies. Whether it comes [from] within the ANC or elsewhere, we need to work together to end this. We can’t as an organisation harbour criminals,” Mabuyane added.
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