DURBAN - Residents of Ward 17 who had been at the office of their now-slain ward councillor cannot believe they were with a would-be killer.
These were the words of eThekwini speaker Thabani Nyawose as he reacted to the death of ANC councillor Sibusiso Khwela, who was gunned down in Klaarwater in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
The incident happened on Thursday.
Reports suggest that the councillor was in his office with several members of the community when he was attacked by an unknown suspect.
According to police, the suspect allegedly posed as someone who needed assistance from the deceased.
But as the councillor came out to assist, the unknown man allegedly drew a firearm and fired several shots.
The councillor was declared dead at the scene.
READ | ANC councillor shot dead in Durban
The eThekwini Speaker described the killing as a painful blow to both the municipality and the community, saying the incident has left residents shaken.
“We are in pain as the municipality. Whenever there is a councillor that is killed in such a way, you know that there is generally a sense of panic, not just in the community but broadly in the province and in the city as well," he said.
Nyawose said what was most concerning was the audacity of the suspect to kill in broad daylight.
This, he said, makes him believe that the suspect could have come with a 'purpose'.
“He never covered his face. He was brave enough to do this terrible act. We hope that there are members of the public who might have seen this man or the incident,” the Speaker added.
Police have confirmed that investigations into the matter are underway and a manhunt for the suspect has been launched.