Police working non-stop to deal with traditional leader murders: Ramaphosa

By Amy Musgrave

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the rise in killings of traditional leaders, describing it as an affront to the nation.

Speaking during the annual opening of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in Cape Town on Tuesday, the president said that even one killing was one too many. 

Already this year, Contralesa NEC member and chairperson of the Ndzundza-Fene Traditional Council, Kosi Thugwana, was assassinated at Tweefontein near KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga in January.

This followed the killing of 71-year-old Eastern Cape traditional leader Nkosikazi Thenjiwe Eunice “Nogcinile” Mtirara at her home outside Mthatha in October.

In KwaZulu-Natal alone, more than 50 izinduna and amakhosi have been killed since 2019.

Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that the government extended its deepest condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones and to traditional leaders who had lost their colleagues.

He said the police were working around the