Gunshots were fired at a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor’s home in Durban, leaving her home riddled with bullets on Thursday night. Following her victory in an ANC ward in Molweni, Pearl Msomi received multiple threats on her life.
Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, the police spokesperson said Hillcrest police were investigating a case of attempted murder following the attempted assassination of a DA councillor.
“The victim was at her place of residence when she heard gunshots and went to investigate. She noticed the window of their lounge had bullet holes. The motive for the shooting is still unknown,” he said.
Ngcobo said the matter was taken to the station’s branch commander. This was not the first time Msomi was threatened. In the previous incident a bullet was left at her doorstep, but no gunshots were fired at the time. This time, however, shots were fired hit her television and other parts of er home.
Francois Rodgers, the DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal said three cases had been open by the party since November. “For the past five months, she has been threatened. It started with voice messages and SMSes and escalated to a bullet being left on her doorstep mere weeks ago before yesterday’s shooting.”
Rodgers laid all the blame on eThekwini speaker, Thabani Nyawose, who he claims has been dragging his feet in assigning Msomi with personal protection. “The speaker has dragged his feet on the matter, and you have to ask yourself why. As politicians, we put two and two together, it was an ANC ward, and we took it away from them. One has to question this,” said Rodgers.
Rodgers said he reached out to Sharon Hoosen, the DA’s transport and safety portfolio member in the legislature, who took the matter to the provincial police, which eventually ended up with Molweni police visiting Msomi.
Source: News24, Opera News, Politicsweb, Polity, image from Opera News: Highway mail