Leader shooting leaves Khayelitsha community reeling in shock
There has been sadness on the streets of Khayelitsha this week after the fatal shooting of a community leader, Myolisi Magisela. There is a strong call from political parties for a proper investigation into the murders of activists in Khayelitsha.
Image: Supplied
Alliance leaders stood in shock after the killing of one of its community activists, Myolisi Magisela, on Monday morning in Khayelitsha.
Image: Supplied
A community leader was fatally shot outside his home in Hlanga Street, Makhaza, Khayelitsha, on the morning of Monday, 23 June, leaving the community reeling in shock and seeking answers.
Myolisi Magibisela served as the ward 96 BTT convenor and chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the Khayelitsha zone. He was known for his active involvement in the community.
Police have launched an investigation and are appealing to anyone with information that could lead to an arrest to come forward. The motive for the killing is not yet known.
Sisanda Nyawule, SANCO’s Regional Deputy Secretary, told Vukani the community was in shock following Magibisela’s death. “There is a lot of sadness on the streets of Khayelitsha this week, but also a deep sense of introspection,” she said.
Ms Nyawule said that this is the second killing of a SANCO member in recent weeks, following the fatal shooting of Sonwabile Magida in Mfuleni.
“These senseless killings deeply hurt us. I received a call from one of our leaders saying Myolisi had been shot, but he wasn’t sure at the time. When they arrived at the scene, they found his lifeless body. Police had not yet arrived,” she said. His death has caught us by surprise,” she said.
She said the organisation has raised concerns that there were no leads or arrests for these shootings. “We are still in Madiga’s case, but there are no leads and no arrests. That concerns us as an organisation. However, both the deceased were business people, and we are not sure what this stems from. But we urge the police to investigate,” said Ms Nyawule.
The ANC's Dullah Omar regional chairperson, Ndithini Tyhido, said he condemned in the strongest terms the acts of violence that continue to plague Khayelitsha, as dismayed by the recent happenings in the area.
He said the Dullah Omar region is still in shock and is outraged by the senseless killing of its ward 96 BTT convenor/ SANCO Khayelitsha zonal chairperson.
“Comrade Myolisi Magibisela is the type of all-round community activist that the ANC so desperately needs to drive its renewal programme. The ANC urges all its members and supporters in the ward, Khayelitsha, and the region to remain calm and allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their work. We call on the SAPS to leave no stone unturned till the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book,” he said.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the incident and said Makhaza police had registered a murder docket. “The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Monday, at about 10.50am, at a premises at Hlanga Street, Makhaza, where a 48-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded, are under investigation,” said Captain Van Wyk.