By Hajira Khota 

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has urged provincial Premier Sihle Zikalala and his CoGTA MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, to make the Moerane Commission’s recommendations a top priority so that all councillors, regardless of party affiliation, can carry out their jobs without fear of being killed.

Following the assassination of another councillor, the call was made. Minenhle Mkhize, a resident of eThekwini’s Ward 103, was slain over the weekend.

Speaking to Radio Islam International; Martin Meyer, DA spokesperson on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), said it was critical for all councillors to be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without fear of being killed.

“Our country’s overall murder rate remains unacceptably high. It’s also impossible to deny that internal ANC struggle has contributed to the persistence of political violence in our province”.

Following a spike in political killings in the province, the Moerane Commission of Inquiry was constituted in 2016.

Two years later, the commission’s report was released, recommending that political parties do more to educate their members about public service and conflict resolution.

Meyer says that the government needs to do a lot more on the ground by engaging with communities. “Mhikze has only been in office for 2 months, so more work needs to be by government to ensure safety and protection of all”.

No arrests have been made for Mkhize’s death.

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