A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of an MK Party official and her husband following a shooting on a KwaZulu-Natal road last month.

Velile Ntshangase (27) from Mahlabathini appeared before the Ndwedwe District Court on 27 July facing two counts of attempted murder. The case was remanded to 3 August to allow Ntshangase to secure legal representation.

The charges relate to an incident on 23 June at approximately 22:30 when MK Party Ilembe District Secretary Zanele Mbhamali and her husband were travelling home along Road P100 towards Ndwedwe. Unknown gunmen opened fire on their vehicle.

The KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team received the docket on 10 July and immediately began investigating. Their work led to Ntshangase’s arrest.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said further investigations revealed that a second suspect linked to the case was shot and killed by unknown assailants at his home on 29 June after returning from work.

An investigation into that killing is ongoing.

The arrest is the latest development in what appears to be another case of political violence in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that has seen numerous attacks on political figures over the years.

The Political Killings Task Team was established to investigate and prosecute cases involving violence against political office bearers and party members.

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