Partner of slain Northern Cape DA councillor dies from wounds

25 August 2016

Kimberley – The business partner of slain Northern Cape DA councillor Johannes Baaitjies, who was wounded in an attack last week, has died, the Hawks said on Thursday.

Shuping Nosi died on Tuesday night, said spokesperson Captain Philani Nkwalase.

"After he sustained the gun injuries he was hospitalised and he remained critical and yesterday [Wednesday] we were told that he died," said Nkwalase.

On Tuesday morning, a source close to the investigation told News24 that Nosi had been declared brain dead.

Nosi was travelling with Baaitjies when he was wounded in the attack.

Nkwalase said the accused, ANC councillor Zoniselo Magawu, was now facing two counts of murder.

“So far there are no indications that there are more suspects, but we can’t rule out the possibility and investigations continue," he said.

On Monday, Magawu appeared in the Postmasburg Magistrate's Court where he was charged for the murder of Baaitjies and the attempted murder of Shuping.

Magawu was remanded in custody and would return to court on August 29.

The ANC in the Northern Cape said in a statement issued on Monday that it "notes with regret the arrest of one of its councillor candidates, Zoniselo Megawu".

The party said it condemned, in the "strongest" terms, the killing of the DA councillor.

"If the allegations levelled against the suspect are proven to be true by a court of law, the ANC’s code of conduct for public representatives and its disciplinary code, as stipulated in clause 16 of our constitution, would be applicable immediately."

Baaitjies was shot in the head and upper body on the eve of being inaugurated.

He was due to be sworn in to the plenary council of the Kgatelopele municipality, but as a result of the shooting, the first meeting was postponed.

DA Northern Cape leader Andrew Louw has labelled the murder a political killing.

Municipal manager Morgan Motswana said all members of council were so shocked by the shooting and death of Baaitjies that the inaugural meeting was postponed to Monday, August 22.

Baaitjies won the seat for the DA in Ward 2, but his death left the small council hung, with three councillors in the ANC, and three in a coalition between two DA councillors, including Baaitjies, and two councillors for the Kgatelopele Community Forum (KCF).

This article first appeared on News 24, see here.