Eastern Cape councillors

There is concern over a rising trend of violence and attacks on Eastern Cape public representatives. Image via Pixabay/Stevebp

Eastern Cape councillors under attack as houses are set on fire

A number of Eastern Cape councillors have come under attack as their residences have been torched and some shot.

Eastern Cape councillors

There is concern over a rising trend of violence and attacks on Eastern Cape public representatives. Image via Pixabay/Stevebp

Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolile Williams, has condemned a rising trend of attacks on councillors in the province. 

This comes after Cllr Xolile Moni came under attack from unknown assailants who shot at him, injuring his son, and set his house alight on Sunday evening against a councillor in the Port St. Johns Local Municipality.

EASTERN CAPE COUNCILLORS UNDER ATTACK 

According to COGTA spokesperson in the Eastern Cape Pheello Oliphant the latest incident follows earlier attacks against the Mayor and Speaker of Council in Port St Johns Local Municipality. 

In the evening of 4 October 2022, the residence of the Mayor Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo, was set alight at night by unknown arsonists. This was immediately followed by the torching down of the residence of the Speaker of Council Cebisa Mazuza. On 16 September 2022, Cllr Fundisile Ranai of Ingquza Hill Municipality together with his son were fatally shot at their home in Lusikisiki. The attackers are still at large, the spokesperson said. 

Zolile Williams has since condemned the trend in the strongest possible terms and the unfolding violence.

Williams reportedly wrote to the Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Lillian Mene, requesting a meeting to discuss a responsive security plan to deal with this growing trend of violence against elected public officials at local government level in especially the OR Tambo District.

The request was reportedly agreed to by Lieutenant General Mene and the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 20 October 2022.

These attacks come as KwaZulu-Natal councillors from both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have been assassinated or survived assassination attempts recently. Those that were killed had been shot by unknown assailants who fled the scenes in getaway cars.

ALSO READ: Elderly traffic officer shot dead while on duty