Local News
Cops warn against speculation after murder of Amcu official─── 05:23 Tue, 21 Apr 2015
Rustenburg - North West police on Monday warned against speculation about the killing of Amcu regional official Colin Petlele.
The 38-year-old was robbed of his shoes and money, before being gunned down at Luka village outside Rustenburg in the early hours of Sunday morning, said spokesperson Thulani Zwane.
"It would be premature for this to be linked to the old union rivalry issues that once engulfed the Platinum belt," Zwane said in a statement.
He was referring to previous tension between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
He explained that those suspected to have been behind Petlele's killing had been drinking at a tavern in the area.
Police were told that one of four male patrons suddenly broke an empty beer bottle at the tavern.
The man became aggressive and left.
His friends then left the tavern and joined him at the gate.
"According to the information available at this stage, it appears that the victim was robbed of his shoes and money that was on him before two shots were fired by one of the patrons," said Zwane.
"It is alleged that one of the bullets struck him in the head."
The suspects then fled the scene on foot.
The man was taken to the Impala Hospital, where he was certified dead.
No arrests had been made.
It was unclear where Phetlele had been coming from.
While police were yet to confirm the identity of the deceased, Amcu told News24 that it was Phetlele who was killed.
"I can confirm that our regional chairman of health and safety was killed in Luka. I met with the family last night. It is true he was shot dead," said Amcu co-ordinator Abram Seakatso.
Police investigations continue.
