NFP councillor shot dead in Nongoma after recent attempts on another councillor's life

A National Freedom Party (NFP) councillor from the hotly contested Nongoma local municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal was shot dead on Sunday morning. 

Ntombenhle Mchunu, who served as an executive committee member in the council, was murdered soon after two attempts were made against another of the NFP’s female councillors, the party told TimesLIVE.

She was with her family and asleep in her Nongoma home when she was shot several times by gunmen who broke into the property. 

“As the NFP we are reeling in shock after receiving the sad news of the passing of our councillor in the early hours of Sunday,” said Mbali Shinga, an NFP member of the KZN provincial legislature. 

“Councillor Mchunu was our exco council member within the Nongoma municipality. She was also a leader of the NFP women's movement having served as the chair within the Nongoma constituency,” Shinga said, adding that the assassination comes after two recent attempts on the life of councillor Nonhlanhla Zungu. 

She said NFP leaders were with Mchunu’s family and the police and would only be able to comment more fully on the attacks later in the week. 

Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said: "The SAPS Political Killings Task Team has mobilised maximum resources to arrest those behind the killing.

"The councillor's four-year-old grandson is in a critical condition following the shooting."

A case of murder and attempted murder is under investigation.

TimesLIVE