EFF candidate killed at KwaBaca, intimidation case opened against ANC in Matatiele.
MATATIELE: The Leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in the Alfred Nzo region are reeling with shock after their candidate was shot and killed in KwaBaca, in what they described as the growing intolerance between the political parties towards the 1st November Local Government Elections. Meanwhile, an EFF candidate has opened a case of intimidation against the African National Congress at Matatiele police station last Sunday. Acting Executive Mayor has since apologised for that incident.
It is reported that Yongama Totoba (27), a Ward 15 councillor candidate for the EFF was shot by two unknown gunmen last Friday. Totoba was in the back of a family H1 Bakkie with two other fighters and a pastor they gave a lift to when the incident happened. The two unknown suspects came from nowhere and attacked Totoba while the bakkie was stationary, preparing to pick up another passenger. The suspects began by shooting Totoba in the head and continued to shoot randomly injuring the other two fighters and the pastor. The victims were all taken to Madzikane KaZulu Hospital in KwaBaca. Totoba succumbed to the bullet wound, others are recuperating at the Nelson Mandela Hospital, Mthatha.
On the same day, Ward 20 candidate of the EFF Fundiswa Nyamakazi in Matatiele was puzzled when a group of ANC members parked their cars next to her gate calling her a traitor and other names. It is alleged that they told her that she must focus on teaching and forget about being a candidate or she will be injured. A case of intimidation has been opened and the matter has also been reported to the IEC.
Commenting about the matter Alfred Nzo Regional Secretary of the EFF Simthembile Madikizela said there is a strange hostility that is developing as the date of elections is nearing. “We have noticed that even before the shooting of Totoba at KwaBaca, ANC members began by removing EFF posters. It was the same at Mnceba and Ntabankulu town so you can see it’s the political intolerance coming from the side of the ANC.”
Meanwhile, Polelo Mohale who is the regional member of the ANC apologised for the Friday incident that happened at Ward 20 against councillor candidate Fundiswa Nyamakazi during a live broadcast on the Informer Digital TV.
