ANC chairman gets death threat

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Durban -

The chairman of the Chatsworth branch of the ANC Visvin Reddy, said on Sunday that he had received a death threat as he was about to attend the memorial service of slain colleague, ward councillor Mthandeni Shezi.

Reddy said he had been on his way to the party’s offices in Croftdene on Thursday, to fetch some of his colleagues to take them to the memorial service in Welbedacht, when a man called his secretary, Cookie Perumal, and told her he was going to be killed.

“The call came at about 2pm on Thursday, on the office landline. My secretary was terrified for me and tried to contact me on my cellphone. Fortunately, I arrived at the offices five minutes later and she informed me about the call.”

Perumal said the man had asked to speak to Reddy.

“I told him Visvin was not in. He then told me that Visvin should watch his back when he attended Shezi’s memorial because he was going to be killed. He then ended the call.”

Reddy said he immediately went to the Chatsworth police station, where he opened a case of intimidation.

“I also informed the provincial ANC structures about the threat on my life. ANC deputy secretary Monica Jama, cautioned me not to take the threat lightly and to be alert.”

He said he refused to be intimidated and attended the memorial with a police escort.

Shezi, who was Chatsworth’s Ward 72 (Risecliffe and Demat) councillor, and deputy chairman of the Naidoo Makhaya Zone, was gunned down during a party meeting two weeks ago.

“I am not afraid to die,” said Reddy.

However, he said it was “unacceptable for thugs to resort to this type of behaviour”.

Commenting on the political killings, Reddy said that since 2009 there had been 41 killings related to politics – and most had come from the ANC, creating an impression that the party was at war with itself.

Reddy said he believed that many of the suspects behind the killings were criminal elements that had found their way into the party.

“I haven’t the slightest clue as to why anyone would want to threaten my life. I am just an ordinary member of the ANC and do not even occupy any position in government,” he said. “I have no intention of watching my back. I am just concerned that this scenario is scaring people.”

The ANC’s provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala, said the threat against Reddy was being viewed in a very serious light.

“The recent spate of political killings in the province has created a sense of worry among ANC members. Many are in fear for their lives. It has even created instability in some areas,” he said.

 

Reddy dismissed any talk that he would quit politics in the light of the death threat.

“Politics in is my blood,” he said. “We have to stand up against this rot that is creeping into society. If not, our children will have no future in this country. I will be doing my family a greater disservice by walking away from what I love most.” - Daily News