NUMSA condemns the murders of a Numsa leader and an ANC leader in KwaZulu-Natal South Coast Region

Monday 10 September 2012

The KwaZulu-Natal National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) strongly condemns the brutal murder of comrade Bheki Chiliza, an ANC Oshabeni Branch Secretary and  Numsa South Coast Local Chairperson, and ANC Oshabeni Branch Chairperson, Dumisani Malunga.

Comrade Chiliza and ANC Oshabeni Branch Chairperson Dumisani Malunga were murdered last night Sunday 9 September 2012, after coming back from an ANC Branch General Meeting (BGM). Both Comrade(s) Chiliza and Malunga are the latest victims of the many unresolved political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, thus making the province the capital city of political killings.

The murder of Comrades Chiliza and Malunga follows closely in the footsteps of the monstrous murder of ANC Chief Whip Wandile Mkhize in July 2012.

We do not want to pre-empt the reasons or circumstances surrounding the brutal killing of these two militant fighters, and principled activists of the movement, but we are suspicious that the murder of the two comrades is politically motivated. We are deeply worried that political differences are now being resolved through the barrel of a gun, and no longer through established Congress movement traditions of political persuasion and robust engagements.

Comrade Chiliza, a shop steward at Marley Pipe System for the past 6 years, will be greatly missed by all of us. His commitment and loyalty to the ANC-led Alliance was marvelled by his peers. He was a living expression of the trade union movement battle slogan that a good Shop steward must be a leader of working class formations, particularly the ANC.

As NUMSA we send our condolences to the families of the two departed comrades, their friends and comrades and we call on the law enforcement agencies, particularly the police to track down and arrest his killers.

Statement issued by Mbuso Ngubane, NUMSA KwaZulu Natal Regional Secretary, September 10 2012

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