The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Community Safety and Liaison, in conjunction with police have activated their crime-fighting structures in Richmond to speed up the process of finding suspects linked to the murder of a local councelor, Sifiso Mkhize.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that Councilor Mkhize, who was also the Chairperson of the Community Policing Forum in Richmond, was ambushed outside his home while returning from a community engagement with members of the CPF. His vehicle was shot 18 times with an AK 47.
On Friday,30 June 2017, the Department, led by the Chairperson of the Community Safety and Liaison Portfolio Committee, Mr Bheki Ntuli, visited the home of the slain community leader after receiving a briefing from the police station.
Ntuli strongly condemned the incident and assured the Mkhize family that the police will work around the clock to find the suspects. “We have asked the Department of community Safety and Liaison to activate all its crime fighting structures in the area and assist police with any possible leads,” said Ntuli.
He said that the case has already been handed over to the provincial police task team because of its high profile nature.
“The MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda is also going to engage the Minister of Police in establishing the possibility of increasing the number of the National Intervention Unit which is currently deployed in the province to investigate political killings,” said Ntuli.
Ntuli called on community members in Richmond to remain calm and reiterated the departments’ commitment to bring about peace and stability in Richmond.
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