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SowetanLive reports that at least 54 councillors and municipal officials have been killed since 2021 local government elections, prompting the SA Local Government Association (Salga) to call for government to set a budget for provision of security.
The organisation said it had noticed the growing number of cases of intimidation and killing of councillors and municipal officials, with at least 54 killed for various reasons since the local elections a year ago and more than 300 being murdered over the past few years. Salga president Bheke Stofie said the increasing cases in recent weeks was concerning. “It cannot be that week after week we convey condolences for public representatives who have been killed. The killing of municipal councillors and/or senior managers should be viewed within the contestation of power, it presents a direct attack on our hard-won democracy,” Stofile said. He went on to say: “Salga in the previous years suggested that the rate of successful prosecution of councillors killings must be raised by turning councillors slayings into priority crimes. The budget for the provision of security to councillors and senior officials must be appropriated from the national fiscus.” The most common attacks included the killing of both councillors and officials as well as damage to moveable and immovable property; security threats at offices and homes; threats for executing official responsibilities; intimidation from gangsters related to building projects; as well as extortion and families of councillors held up in their homes.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at SowetanLive
- See too, Modimolle-Mookgophong municipal boss lives in fear for flagging R1.8m road tender, at SowetanLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page