Mandeni mayor Thabani Mdlalose and the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal have condemned recent crime incidents in the area north of Durban including a shooting at a tavern and the assassination of ANC Councillor Phendukani Mabhida.
Mdlalose expressed his condolences to the families of the victims from the tavern shooting which occurred on Monday night.
The shooting at a tavern in Sundumbili, which occurred after an altercation claimed four lives, including two off-duty police officers.
"We are saddened by what happened. We want Mandeni to be known by good things, and it always hurts us when there is an incident like this," he said.
"We ask that members of the public cooperate with the police to ensure that the criminals are caught."
Meanwhile, the ANC in KZN has condemned Mabhida’s killing, describing it as a “barbaric act.”
The party stated that Mabhida, a dedicated public servant, was murdered at his home by unknown attackers who deceived him into thinking they needed his help.
"As the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal, we wish to express our deepest condolences to the Mabhida family following the murder of our dedicated member, Cde Phendukani Mabhida," the ANC said in a statement.
"He served as a councillor in Ward 18 under Mandeni Local Municipality, and he was loved by his community for his hard work."
The ANC vowed to support Mabhida’s family and called on law enforcement to swiftly arrest the perpetrators.
"We trust that the police will hunt down the heartless murderers and ensure that they are arrested, convicted, and given a hefty sentence that will ensure that they rot in jail," the party said.
The ANC also expressed confidence in the police, stating that ballistic experts assigned to the case would gather crucial evidence to link the suspects to the crime.
"We are encouraging the police to continue to act firmly against criminals who are terrorising communities," the ANC added, calling on the public to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.