An IFP Councillor Innocent “Killer” Mkhwanazi was shot dead in Mtubatuba, northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on Monday afternoon at about 5 p.m.
His assassination comes only days after the murder of the ACDP’s City of Umhlathuze Councillor, Pastor John Myaka, who was shot dead while preaching at his church in Nseleni last week.
According to IOL, in the case of Mkhwanazi, he was trapped and shot dead while driving on one of the area’s narrow roads.
Sources claim that the assailants fired a spray of bullets at the car, fatally wounding him before leaving the area.
BREAKING NEWS: A Councillor of the IFP in the Umkhanyakude district municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal has been shot dead. Innocent "Killer" Mkhwanazi was shot dead a while ago around Mtubatuba and police are at the scene where he was murdered. @IOL pic.twitter.com/SSsdHkQl2S
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 3, 2023
Police were still combing the murder scene, but the motive for the killing was still to be determined.
“He has been killed, but for now nobody knows why he was killed and who is behind this shocking murder,” a source said.
Shocked members of Mkhwanazi’s family and close friends were at the scene, IOL has established.
Mkhwanazi was a well-known IFP figure in the Mtubatuba area, where he lived.
At some point, he worked for the Mtubatuba Local Municipality, which is now contested by the IFP and the ANC.
He later left the municipality to join politics full-time and in the process, the IFP deployed him to the Umkhanyakude District Municipality, where he was serving as a councillor until the time of his death.
Despite his long service to the party, he had run-ins with its leadership and at some point, he was hauled over the coals for alleged ill-discipline.
The IFP’s national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, confirmed Mkhwanazi’s death but said details were still sketchy.
“The IFP has received with sadness and regret the news of the death of IFP Cllr Innocent Mkhwanazi. He was allegedly shot dead this afternoon.
“Details surrounding the shooting are unclear at this point. The IFP sends its condolences to all of Cllr Mkhwanazi’s family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time. May his soul rest in peace,” said Hlengwa.
Hlengwa said the IFP condemned the killing in the strongest possible terms.
“This type of violence does not bode well for our democracy, and is cause for serious concern as we approach the 2024 elections,” Hlengwa said in a statement.
