Slain ANC ward 18 Mandeni Local Municipality councillor Phendukani Mabhida. Picture: Supplied
Just days before being gunned down, an ANC Mandeni Local Municipality councillor had written to his party’s regional office saying he felt he was the “only councillor who is against corruption and poor management within the municipality”.
Phendukani Mabhida was gunned down on Tuesday and his sister was wounded, hours before he had been expected to air his grievances with what was happening in the municipality.
Police said suspects were arrested hours after the incident - while three suspects, linked to Mabhida’s murder and the killing of two off-duty police constables and the attempted murder of four other people at a tavern last week in Sundumbili, were killed by police on Saturday.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Bhambayi in Inanda on Saturday afternoon.
In a letter, dated January 31, 2025, Mabhida had written to the ANC’s General Gizenga Mpanza regional executive committee saying that he felt the ANC caucus in the municipality has become a platform where comrades come to defend their friends.
He added that he wanted to request that he be allowed not to attend meetings as he was being questioned for raising his views.
“I realised that I am the only Councillor who is against corruption and poor management within the municipality. I also realised that no one within our caucus understands that we have to debate issues within the caucus and get proper clarities, now the ANC caucus has become a platform where comrades come to defend their friends without thinking about the reputation of the ANC.”
In the letter, he said the ANC is currently being accused of corruption by many people and “if a representative of the organisation try to ensure that its reputation is protected, our comrades become offended and defend officials in their wrongdoings. I understand I’m the only person who has no interest in corruption in that municipality,” he said.
Mabhida further warned that “the calibre of some colleagues is dangerous” in the organisation.
He said that he was unhappy because, in the caucus, some councillors were saying it is good to have officials who are making the same mistakes.
He mentioned one councillor who humiliated him in the council on January 28 and even accused him of working with the opposition parties - just because he had asked questions.
“I request to be allowed to not attend any meeting of the municipality so that I cannot question anything,” Mabhida said in the letter.
Siphesihle Zulu, secretary-general of the ANC General Gizenga Mpanza region said they received Mabhida’s letter on January 31 and had expected him to come in and give them more details about the issues raised.
“We are aware of the letter. The steps had to start with him to explain everything he had written.”
He pleaded with the public not to speculate on the motive behind the murder and praised police for the arrests.
Mandeni Local Municipality Speaker Phindile Sishi confirmed that they received Mabhida’s letter and said the concerns would be addressed through internal processes.
Sishi added that as a Council, “we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our fellow councillor”, Phendukani Mabhida, who fell victim to a “senseless” attack.
“We had planned a meeting with late Cllr Mabhida to further get more information on the letter. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday.”
ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said that the provincial leadership had been made aware of Mabhida’s letter, even though it had not officially reached the provincial office.
He said the party did not want to speculate on the motive behind Mabhida’s death, but would allow the family to grieve.
“We would like to thank the police for acting fast by arresting the suspects. This is what the ANC has been calling for for some time now. We hope that if there are more people involved, including those who hired hitmen, that they are arrested and brought to book,” Mndebele said.