ANC Councillor’s Murder: eThekwini Urges Witnesses to Help Find Sibusiso Khwela’s Attacker
- The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has made an appeal to the community following Sibusiso 'Khekhe' Khwela's murder
- The ward 17 councillor, who was a member of the African National Congress, was shot dead in Klaarwater on 7 August 2026
- South Africans have weighed in on the latest update, sharing varied reactions about the murder and the appeal
- Briefly News reached out to National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, for further information about the murder
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
DURBAN — The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is urging anyone with information about the murder of Sibusiso "Khekhe" Khwela to come forward.
Khwela, the Ward 17 councillor, was fatally shot in Klaarwater on Thursday, 6 August 2026, while attending to members of the public at his office. According to police, an unidentified man arrived at the African National Congress (ANC) councillor's office claiming to need assistance.
Khwela stepped outside to help, at which point the suspect drew a firearm and fired multiple shots. The councillor was declared deceased at the scene.
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Public urged to come forward with information
Addressing the shooting, eThekwini Council Speaker Thabani Nyawose confirmed that the attack took place in full view of several witnesses and that the gunman made no attempt to conceal his identity.
"We hope there are members of the public who might have seen this man or witnessed the incident. We appeal to them to work with the police and share any information they may have. We are in pain as the eThekwini Municipality," he said.
Briefly News reached out to National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, for further information. Brigadier Mathe confirmed that the matter was taken over by the Political Killings Task Team.
"Given the Political Killings Task Team's proven track record in investigating and successfully resolving politically motivated murders, the Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has placed her full faith and confidence in the team's expertise and capabilities to thoroughly investigate this case," she said.
South Africans react to the appeal
Social media users responded to the news with a mix of grief and calls for action.
Andile Ma-ahh wrote:
"The last time I checked, Klaarwater had CCTV cameras. Is there no way to identify the suspects using CCTV?"
Mathome Moholo commented:
"But they said the perpetrator was with them, and had no mask. What's so hard?"
Mike Watermeyer said:
"Someone must have information. Someone must know something. Irrespective, it’s the right thing to do."
Xolela Mabhuti Xhasa added:
"Rest in peace, Comrade.”
Arrests made after councillors are killed
Briefly News reported that the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team made breakthroughs in two separate high-profile murder cases.
The task team was investigating the 2025 murder of the ANC's Thabang Masemola and the 2026 murder of the EFF's Aaron Makola.
South Africans weighed in on the developments and breakthroughs made, praising the police for their efforts in bringing the suspects to book.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
