Durban - Councillors in eThekwini Municipality are calling for an investigation to be commissioned into “killings” in the water unit following the murder of yet another staff member.
This year, four employees have been killed in the unit with the latest being Sydney Qwabe, who was gunned down on Wednesday last week.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said the murder was being investigated.
She said police found a vehicle with the body of the 57-year-old seated in the passenger seat. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Sources in the unit have given varying accounts of what could have led to this tragedy, with some speculating that Qwabe’s murder could be linked to his job and others saying it could have been personal.
Attempts to speak to his family were unsuccessful yesterday.
Qwabe’s murder comes after other incidents.
In February, Amos Ngcobo, who was a manager in the water unit, was shot dead by a hitman while in his office in Springfield.
Another employee Phumzile Qatha was shot dead in April this year outside the Ottawa depot. She was in charge of water tankers.
Another employee was shot inside a municipal vehicle near uMlazi.
A municipal source, who did not want to be named for fear of his safety, said Qwabe had feared that there were people following him, but had not stated why he suspected that.
The killings have put the staff on edge with one staff member supporting the view that an investigation be commissioned into the motive behind the murders.
“At this point all the staff are going to be walking around with protection (bodyguards), even that (having bodyguards) is no guarantee that you will not be killed,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The city’s councillors said it was clear that criminality and mafia-like behaviour had taken root in the unit and needed to be dealt with.
IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi said the killings were unlikely to stop because it was clear that there was criminal conduct happening inside the municipality.
“We have said that there should be a commission to look into what is happening in that unit, it is clear there is a mafia-style criminal syndicate operating within the municipality.”
DA councillor Mzamo Billy said it was concerning that municipal employees continued to get killed and it was clear that there was a serious contestation that was happening within the municipality.
“There are people who are looking to get rich as quickly as possible and are intent on removing others in their quest to accumulate as much wealth and as quickly as possible.”
He said a task team needed to be set up to look into the allegations and acts of wrongdoing within the unit.
Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the city was aware of the murder, but said the matter was now being handled by the law-enforcement agencies.
ANC councillor Nkosenhle Madlala said: “We condemn the killings in the strongest terms and we convey our condolences to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased. We call on law-enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of these killings.”