Vryheid – The African National Congress says it has asked the police for details regarding the arrest of the OPhongolo Local Municipality Speaker, K.E Nxumalo, reportedly for possession of an unlawful weapon.
In a statement on Monday, (7 April 2025), the ANC in Mzala Nxumalo Region, KwaZulu-Natal, said it has called on the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority to “clarify the circumstances around the alleged arrest” of Speaker Nxumalo.
“It is alleged that the speaker was found in possession of an illegal and unlicensed firearm,” the statement said.
“As the ANC in the region we believe the latest reports are serious and warrants transparency and accountability as they involved the Speaker of the municipality who presides over the crucial formal activities of the municipality.
“In particular, there is a prevailing climate of peace and free political activity in OPhongolo and we do not want to see the return of any political relation tension and killings.”
The ANC said, “critically in Zululand District in general” there are unresolved politically related murders.
“In this regard, the arrest of the Speaker and reports of illegal and unlicensed firearms found in his possession has generated many questions resulting in a dark cloud hanging over his head,” the statement said.
“Finally, as the ANC in the region, we believe that this is a matter that must be properly processed by the relevant authority, and elected public leaders in the council must also be properly empowered with information around this matter.
“We shall engage our deployees in the municipality and mandate them to keep the organisation informed.”
