News24 reports that just over a year after surviving a second attempt on his life, Buffalo City Metro infrastructure departmental director Nceba Ncunyana died in a hail of bullets on Wednesday afternoon.

He oversaw a department that handles the lion's share of the metro's R13 billion annual budget. Two other people, one believed to be Ncunyana's driver and the other a bodyguard, were critically wounded in the attack and are reportedly fighting for their lives in hospital. The attack happened on the N2 freeway, halfway between Qonce and East London near Ntabozuko town. An unknown number of men besieged Ncunyana and his two companions, opening fire using high calibre rifles until his vehicle came to a halt. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane expressed his shock at the murder and simply texted: “We live in hell.” Ncunyana’s assassination comes after a gunman shot and wounded him at his home in East London in August 2022. In September 2021, gunmen stormed his home with news that they had been hired to end his life and demanded money from him to spare it. The suspects ransacked his home and made off with cash. Ncunyana was forced to go into hiding at the time. SA Local Government Association (SALGA) national deputy chairperson, Xola Pakati, who is also a councillor in the same metro, said the slaying of municipal officials and councillors in SA was concerning. He added: "We are shocked by the developments with regards to this murder and I must add that this is very worrisome.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24 (subscriber access only)

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