By Celani Sikhakhane
- Allegations of party in-fighting amid claims that the murder arrest is a political smear discrediting campaign.
- Arrested suspect was once a manager in the office of the former MEC for Cogta in KZN.
The Christmas Day arrest of the former Head of Ministry at the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has seen some auctions within the ANC in the Vryheid area.
Former Cogta HOM (Head of Ministry) Lindokuhle Xulu was arrested over allegations of murder following the death of a suspected cattle thief.
However, his supporters claim the murder charge is a trumped one orchestrated by a faction within the ANC in the province.
Xulu was contacted on Sunday 22 December by the Vryheid SAPS over the murder of a local man who was accused of stock theft in Hlobane village.
Xulu was subsequently arrested while he was in Durban and appeared at the Vryheid Magistrates Court.
ANCYL members of Mzala Nxumalo Region where Xulu comes from believe that Xulu’s arrest is politically motivated.
Sanele Zulu of ANCYL said they suspect that top leaders of the ANC at Mzala Nxumalo are behind the arrest of Xulu after he called for the disbandment of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee led by chairperson Sboniso Duma and secretary Bheki Mtolo.
“We believe that his arrest has to do with ANC infighting especially over the disbandment of the PEC. We are saying this because Xulu was in Durban when this guy was murdered but there are claims that he killed him just because one of his cars was at his home in Vryheid.
“This is not the first time some leaders in the ANC are trying to destroy Xulu. They once poisoned him when he was still the Head of Ministry at Cogta. He had to quit his job in August 2023 and seek medical attention in Cape Town,” said Zulu.
He claimed that Xulu almost died of poisoning at that time, when some leaders of the ANC were in a serious political battle with him, as he was trying to collapse the ANCWL KZN elective conference after it was won by Nonhlanhla Khoza.
Zulu claimed that the arrest comes as some ANC leaders at Mzala Nxumalo Region are trying to collude with IFP local leaders to fight Xulu after he was vocal about the removal of IFP former mayor of Abaqulusi, Mncedisi Maphisa.
It is alleged that the deceased tried to steal cattle from Xulu’s uncle, and afterwards complained to his family that Xulu wants to kill him for alleged stock theft.
Xulu is a known controversial political figure in Zululand, which is the Mzala Nxumalo Region of the ANC.
He once fought the axed traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, accusing him of corruption while he was still the IFP mayor of the Zululand District Municipality.
When Scrolla.Africa tried to contact him, Xulu said he was on the road but promised to respond. After that he switched off the phone and never returned the call.
His murder case will start in court on 3 February.
Pictured above: Former Cogta HOD Lindokuhle Xulu who has been arrested for the murder of his neighbour who was accused of stock theft
Source: Instagram
