Emalahleni Local Municipality Mayor Nontombizanele Koni has voiced her shock at the murder of the local authority’s mayoral committee member, Xoliseka Bathandwa Lali, who was shot dead at his Komani home on Tuesday, 22 July.
Lali, a former student leader deployed to student governance by the South African Students’ Congress at Walter Sisulu University, was the political head for Infrastructure Development and Human Settlements and council Chief Whip.
Police also confirmed the murder.
Lali was sworn into office in 2021, deployed by the ANC.
“We are shocked by this tragic incident which is foreign in our space and would like to request that we must remain calm even though it hurts to lose a young man with potential to serve the nation. Xoliseka was a pillar of strength in so many ways in our council as he was deployed to lead us as the majority party in council and automatically as the Whip of Council. His approach on issues was like a glue to bind us to look towards the same direction, whose main objective is to deliver services to the people,” said Koni.
She said the council had lost a cadre of the people.
“A young energetic man who was ready to tackle any challenge faced in our communities. This loss is painful to us councillors who have served with him since 2021, and as the Executive Committee and the Troika, it will never be the same in his absence,” said Koni.
Council Speaker, Ncedisa Mtyobile, said the municipality had lost a dedicated servant of the people who served the people of Emalahleni with diligence.
“His directorate was dealing directly with service delivery. His responsibility as the Whip of Council was to ensure that council business was taking place as planned for the benefit of the people. We are with the family in prayers for the arrest of the perpetrators who have tormented us and his family so severely, and we will continue with prayers so that the perpetrators are brought to book and face the full might of the law,” said Mtyobile.
She sent her council’s condolences to the family, the community, and the colleagues and friends.
Mtyobile also pleaded with members of the public to give the family a chance to grieve.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, said police responded to a shooting incident at a residence at South East Village estate in Komani on the morning of 22 July.
Upon arrival, she said, police found Lali’s body with bullet wounds to his upper body.
“According to reports, the wife of the deceased attempted to contact her husband in the early morning hours without success. Concerned, she requested her brother-in-law (the deceased’s brother) to check on him at the apartment. Upon arrival, the brother found the security gate and front door open. Inside the passage, he discovered a live round of ammunition. Proceeding to the bedroom, he found his brother lying on the bed with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body and back,” said Gantana.
The motive for the murder is currently unknown.
Police are actively processing the crime scene and investigating the circumstances.
Gantana requested anyone with information that could assist in this investigation to contact the SAPS Crime Stop Hotline on 08600 10111 or submit a tip anonymously via the My SAPS App.
All information will be treated confidentially.
