Durban — The ANC leadership in eThekwini has called on communities to hold hands and show public disapproval of any form of crime.
The ANC is expected to visit the families of the victims who died when gunmen opened fire inside a tuckshop near Mariannhill in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
Seven men died in the incident at Sqhopholozi Tuckshop in Savannah Park.
Three people have been arrested by police.
According to police reports, it is alleged that on Saturday at 7.30pm, a group of unknown men opened fire on people who were at a tuckshop in Mariannhill, killing six men, aged between 30 and 65-years-old. Another died in hospital.
Police said that one of the deceased who was waiting at the tuckshop to see a traditional healer might have been the actual target of the hit.
The ANC regional executive committee in the eThekwini region will be joined by the provincial executive committee, including provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma.
ANC regional spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said they are calling on communities to hold hands and show public disapproval of any form of crime.
“We have undertaken to continue to mobilise communities to work with law enforcement agencies to flush out criminal elements operating in all corners of the region. Communities must come together in defence of our freedom and democracy. Freedom is threatened each time any member of society is murdered, raped or mugged,” Mkhize said.
Despite this major setback, the ANC in the region will ensure that a stronger effort is mounted to fight crime, in all its manifestations, from the unacceptable level of murders, assaults, robberies, and hijacking to domestic violence.
Mkhize said they were calling upon KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Lucky Mkhwanazi to implore law enforcement agencies to be firm and act decisively to root out rogue elements that are behind the killing of innocent members of society in our region.
“Law enforcement agencies must work towards ensuring the creation of safe haven in the streets of eThekwini. The culture of impunity should not be tolerated in this region. When we all celebrated the dawn of democracy we never imagined that we will one day be subjected to rampant murders and violent crimes,” Mkhize said.
eThekwini mayor councillor Mxolisi Kaunda conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families on Tuesday.
Kaunda condemned the mass shootings and applauded the police for making swift arrests of three suspects allegedly linked to the crime.
Daily News