Richmond council bigwig shot dead

The head of security of the Richmond Municipality was murdered in yet another instance of violence in the area.

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Durban - Violence has again reared its head in Richmond, with the murder of the head of security of the Richmond Municipality.

Police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, confirmed that 41-year-old Mthulisi Ngcobo was shot dead on Friday night outside his house in Ndaleni Slahla in Richmond.

Ngcobo had worked in the security section of the municipality for more than 12 years before being promoted to senior supervisor.

He was also the brother of Richmond’s deputy mayor, Philile Ngcobo.

It is alleged that Ngcobo had driven into his driveway and got out of his car to close the gate when he was shot by unknown men. The suspects then fled.

Naicker said no arrests had yet been made but police were doing everything to trace the killers. “The motive for the murder is also being investigated,” he said.

Rumours are rife in the community that the murder may have been politically motivated because of Ngcobo’s connection to the municipal executive.

Richmond mayor, Andrew Ragavaloo, said the municipality and community were shocked by Ngcobo’s murder.

“He had a pleasant demeanour, was soft spoken and got on well with colleagues and the community. His tragic and senseless killing has devastated us,” Ragavaloo said.

The mayor said while it was difficult to understand an attack on such a well-liked person, the municipal executive were concerned at the recent spate of criminality that had swept over Richmond.

“A keen activist, Ngcobo was always concerned with the upliftment of the community and strove for betterment. Our hope is that the police make quick progress to apprehend his cowardly killers.”

A source within the municipality said that with a scramble for positions within the executive for next year’s elections, Ngcobo’s murder was “most likely” politically motivated.

“Ngcobo had a lot of influence within the community and his family was popular within political circles,” the source said.

Richmond has been the home of political violence over recent years.

In May last year, five shots were fired into councillor Jethro Jili’s Richmond home as he, his mother and two nephews slept. No one was injured, but the attack was believed to be related to an investigation into the alleged misuse of funds by a certain municipal committee.

In November, the Richmond municipal manager’s office, and memorial hall were set alight by unknown suspects.

In 2013, councillors in Richmond came under fire from residents.

Speaker Thulani Shabalala escaped a mob attack on his home when stones were thrown and his car set alight in August.

Mayor Ragavaloo’s home was shot at in July.

The Daily News reported at the time that protesters had threatened to make the town ungovernable demanding the removal of the municipal executive council.

sherlissa.peters@inl.co.za

Daily News

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