KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has applauded law enforcement agencies and the justice system for imposing life imprisonment on two hit men who brutally murdered ANC councillor, Mr Jimmy Lembede, in Estcourt last year. The two murderers were sentenced on the 13 December 2013 by the eMadadeni Magistrate, in Newcastle. Premier was speaking during Umkhosi Woselwa in Nongoma.
Kithi Mlele (26) and Sihle Ndimande (25) were found guilty on four counts – one of murder and three of attempted murder. On the murder count, the Court imposed a heavy sentence of life imprisonment to each and ten years to each on count of attempted murder. The sentence in all cases will run concurrently.
Last year in 17 August, Mr Lembede was murdered in his home and his wife and two children sustained serious injuries. This was viewed as a politically - motivated murder to force a by-election as there was no political party with an outright majority in uMtshezi Municipality. UMtshezi is known as a political hot spot with numerous pending cases of intimidation and the killing of political party leaders still being investigated.
“As government we condemn intimidation and violence against any member of any political party. Importantly, we denounce all provocative and retaliatory action taken by any individual. The fact that next year we will be hosting the general elections coinciding with 20 years of our democracy, we must ensure that we have peaceful, free and fair elections.
Leaders of political parties must educate their members to view political debates, campaigns and elections not as deadly contests but as democratic tools aimed at enhancing a healthy competition of ideas and as the best form of fast-tracking service delivery.
Any violence and electoral processes riddled with intimidation and unfairness will set a bad example and will embarrass KwaZulu-Natal. We call upon all responsible citizens to take it upon themselves to act in an exemplary way by refraining from any destructive and violent behaviour.
We cannot afford an image of a province wherein political intolerance is the order of the day. We reiterate that such a state of affairs is viewed as intolerable, and that we as government will do everything in our power to ensure that the recurrence of such destructive behaviour is nipped in the bud.
While negotiations of the Multi-Task Committee led by MEC for Community Safety and Transport Willies Mchunu are being revived to secure peace, safety and security, we reassure the public that our security machinery will take all necessary steps to ensure that peace prevails, and that any unruly elements found to be violating the rights of others will face the might of the law.
Our country has gone a long way down the path of safety and security, and we are determined to prevent any attempts to derail the strides taken thus far in pursuit of peace and security in our province. We urge the police to make sure that the problem is eradicated and solved once and for all, and for all perpetrators to feel the full might of the law.
We must dismantle all no-go zones and impose political tolerance. Perpetrators must be found and arrested. Party flags must not be used as a shield by criminal and unruly mobs bent on achieving their own ends.
We the political leadership must acknowledge that it is not up to us alone to ensure peace and stability. Traditional leaders have a very strong contribution to make in rebuilding peace and stability in KZN. We wish the leaders of different faith to pray for peace and pray for the end of political violence, so it never re-surfaces in any part of the province.”
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