Political assassinations are an evil phenomenon. They are antithetic to any democracy.
What this phenomenon does when it occurs is to induce a climate of fear among the general populace.
Citizens become loathe to express themselves openly and are disinclined to freely participate in political activity, an activity that is an essential part of any democracy. They fear that this may put them in peril.
The end result of a climate of fear is that it becomes easier for authoritarianism to gain ground.
South Africa is no stranger to political assassinations. Alas, just as we may have liked to think this bugbear had been consigned to the dustbin history, we are reminded by the Moerane Commission (investigating political killings) that it has been present in KwaZulu-Natal for some time.
In his book, Writing the Decline, Dr Richard Pithouse, a Rhodes University political science lecturer, deals extensively with assassinations in that province, showing that they have continued unabated.
It would be convenient for us in other provinces to be complacent and see the phenomenon as confined to a particular province.
But last week’s reports about the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality’s council speaker, Thozama Njobe, was gunned down a rude awakening to the possibility of political killings in our province.
While the jury is still out on the motive behind her execution-style killing, Njobe’s anti-corruption reputation has given rise to speculation about political or financial links.
At this point I am reminded of the internecine warfare between the now defunct United Democratic Front and the moribund Azanian People’s Organisation which took place in Port Elizabeth and other parts of the province in the mid-1980s.
Those were extremely trying times. Friend turned against friend merely because they happened to be on different sides of the political divide. Both the UDF and Azapo lost a number of capable men and women who would have made a sterling contribution to this country.
Regrettably, as would happen in conflicts of such a nature, innocent lives were also lost. These were people who were neither UDF nor Azapo supporters but were caught in the crossfire by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The truism that in war the first casualty is innocence was underscored.
What is concerning about the political killings in KZN (as the Moerane Commission is discovering) is that they do not appear to be due to inter-party rivalry as has happened a number of times in the past. Rather, as we have learnt from the evidence before the commission, the killings in KZN are more a case of “friendly fire” from comrades of the same organisation – a classic case of comrade killing comrade.
We have also learnt from this evidence that for some people being a councillor is a matter of life and death. Sadly, some are so determined to become councillors that they are prepared to “kill” for the opportunity.
One understands, we live in economically depressing times and our junk status attests to that. But it is absolutely unacceptable to kill someone to get his or her job, no matter how economically depressed you may be.
Professor Paulus Zulu, giving evidence to the Moerane Commission, suggested the education requirements for becoming a councillor should be toughened up a bit.
I would concur with the professor. At least that would help prevent charlatans whose only interest is pecuniary advantage not service delivery from entering the system.
The allegations that Njobe may have been killed for her stance on corruption, if proven true, would be extremely disturbing.
Corruption has been the bane of our democracy for a reasonably long time. We all can recall reports in several newspapers, including this one, of councillors involved in corrupt practices.
The former mayor of Buffalo City Metro, Zukiswa Ncitha, and some councillors were hauled to court for their role in the scandal in which millions were skimmed from funds intended for the funeral of President Nelson Mandela.
Given the current context, any individual who stands up against corruption is genuinely appreciated. That someone who championed clean governance and relentlessly fought corruption could be killed for his/her courage, is a real downer.
The killing of Njobe, one hopes, will not dissuade people who may otherwise come forward and report instances of graft.
It is incumbent upon the state through the police and other security agencies to provide adequate security for people whose lives may be in danger for their courageous stand against corruption.
It is not enough for the government to claim it is opposed to corruption. What is needed, over and above speedy arrests and convictions for those who are guilty of fraud, is the protection of whistleblowers who expose the culprits.
Lolonga Tali lives in King William’s Town.
Assassination antithesis of democracy
What this phenomenon does when it occurs is to induce a climate of fear among the general populace.
Citizens become loathe to express themselves openly and are disinclined to freely participate in political activity, an activity that is an essential part of any democracy. They fear that this may put them in peril.
The end result of a climate of fear is that it becomes easier for authoritarianism to gain ground.
South Africa is no stranger to political assassinations. Alas, just as we may have liked to think this bugbear had been consigned to the dustbin history, we are reminded by the Moerane Commission (investigating political killings) that it has been present in KwaZulu-Natal for some time.
In his book, Writing the Decline, Dr Richard Pithouse, a Rhodes University political science lecturer, deals extensively with assassinations in that province, showing that they have continued unabated.
It would be convenient for us in other provinces to be complacent and see the phenomenon as confined to a particular province.
But last week’s reports about the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality’s council speaker, Thozama Njobe, was gunned down a rude awakening to the possibility of political killings in our province.
While the jury is still out on the motive behind her execution-style killing, Njobe’s anti-corruption reputation has given rise to speculation about political or financial links.
At this point I am reminded of the internecine warfare between the now defunct United Democratic Front and the moribund Azanian People’s Organisation which took place in Port Elizabeth and other parts of the province in the mid-1980s.
Those were extremely trying times. Friend turned against friend merely because they happened to be on different sides of the political divide. Both the UDF and Azapo lost a number of capable men and women who would have made a sterling contribution to this country.
Regrettably, as would happen in conflicts of such a nature, innocent lives were also lost. These were people who were neither UDF nor Azapo supporters but were caught in the crossfire by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The truism that in war the first casualty is innocence was underscored.
What is concerning about the political killings in KZN (as the Moerane Commission is discovering) is that they do not appear to be due to inter-party rivalry as has happened a number of times in the past. Rather, as we have learnt from the evidence before the commission, the killings in KZN are more a case of “friendly fire” from comrades of the same organisation – a classic case of comrade killing comrade.
We have also learnt from this evidence that for some people being a councillor is a matter of life and death. Sadly, some are so determined to become councillors that they are prepared to “kill” for the opportunity.
One understands, we live in economically depressing times and our junk status attests to that. But it is absolutely unacceptable to kill someone to get his or her job, no matter how economically depressed you may be.
Professor Paulus Zulu, giving evidence to the Moerane Commission, suggested the education requirements for becoming a councillor should be toughened up a bit.
I would concur with the professor. At least that would help prevent charlatans whose only interest is pecuniary advantage not service delivery from entering the system.
The allegations that Njobe may have been killed for her stance on corruption, if proven true, would be extremely disturbing.
Corruption has been the bane of our democracy for a reasonably long time. We all can recall reports in several newspapers, including this one, of councillors involved in corrupt practices.
The former mayor of Buffalo City Metro, Zukiswa Ncitha, and some councillors were hauled to court for their role in the scandal in which millions were skimmed from funds intended for the funeral of President Nelson Mandela.
Given the current context, any individual who stands up against corruption is genuinely appreciated. That someone who championed clean governance and relentlessly fought corruption could be killed for his/her courage, is a real downer.
The killing of Njobe, one hopes, will not dissuade people who may otherwise come forward and report instances of graft.
It is incumbent upon the state through the police and other security agencies to provide adequate security for people whose lives may be in danger for their courageous stand against corruption.
It is not enough for the government to claim it is opposed to corruption. What is needed, over and above speedy arrests and convictions for those who are guilty of fraud, is the protection of whistleblowers who expose the culprits.
Lolonga Tali lives in King William’s Town.
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