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Friday, 23 January 2009 00:00 |
Pretoria, 22 January 2009 - Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, has condemned the brutal slaying of iNkosi Mbongeleni Zondi from Umsinga in the Umzinyathi District, KwaZulu-Natal as a cowardly act by people who had no respect for human life or cultural institutions of traditional leadership in society.
INkosi Zondi was visiting his wife at his home in Umlazi when he was shot by unknown gunmen earlier today(Thursday 22 January). About fifty AK47 shells were allegedly found at the scene. The motive for the murder is not yet clear at this stage. Minister Shiceka has called on the police to hunt down the killers and ensure that they are dealt with by the law.
“Members of the community should also come forward because surely someone must have seen something or someone suspicious. The community needs to work with the police to swiftly and permanently eliminate incidents of this nature before they escalate into something else,” said Minister Shiceka.
The Minister also passed a message of condolences to the family on their loss.
“For INkosi Zondi to pass on at a time when government is finally setting up a specific department for Traditional Affairs which traditional leaders, including INkosi Zondi, had been agitating for since the dawn of democracy, is a travesty of justice.
He leaves us at a time when government needs all the support and guidance from this sector of leadership in rolling out and managing this key milestone in deepening South Africa’s democracy,” Minister Shiceka said.
Traditional leadership falls within the Minister’s portfolio in Cabinet and he has been engaging widely with traditional leaders in all provinces since he was appointed into his position four months ago.
Issued on behalf of the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka.
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