Police Minister Bheki Cele said a task force had been set up to deal with political killings ahead of the May 29 general election. He was speaking at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday.
Two district councilors were recently murdered, one in Mpumalanga and the other in Rustenburg in the northwest.
Cele says police are making great progress.
“A special team has been set up to deal with it. In Mpumalanga, I think progress has been made in tracking down those who killed MPs. We are working with the community to prevent something like this from happening. We are working on it.”
[Statement] The 2024 general election is said to be the most competitive in the country's history.
Ensuring the safety and security of all voters and officials is paramount. #SA election 24
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— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 28, 2024
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster explained to the media:
Meanwhile, the family of a murdered ANC councilor in the north-west Rustenburg municipality said her life was under threat. On Friday, 54-year-old Poppy Morapedi was shot in front of his home in the village of Fossanen on the outskirts of Rustenburg.
According to police, Morapedi and her niece were on their way home from the store when four unknown men followed them. The suspects then fired shots and fled in a vehicle.
“Our family is very hurt because our child was killed right outside this gate on his way home. The alleged killer was hiding behind this tree. Some say there was a threat. Our child was brutally killed with a gun,” said family spokesperson Abram Morapedi. –Additional Report Thabiso Moss