Hlomuka said he "learnt with shock and sadness of the senseless murder" of African National Congress councillor Philip Mkhwanazi in the Mtubatuba local municipality under the Mkhanyakude district.

The department said it had received reports that Mkhwanazi died "in a hail of bullets fired by unknown assailants when he was outside his house in Khula Village near St Lucia".

Hlomuka said the murder took place during a period when the municipality was making headway in delivering services to communities under "the toughest of conditions".

“As the sphere of local government in the province, we are saddened by the loss of yet another foot soldier in the battle to bring adequate services closer to our communities,” Hlomuka said.

The MEC has called on law enforcement agencies to work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to book. “The murder of a public representative is tantamount subversion of democracy because councillors are servants of the people elected directly by the people,” Hlomuka said.

The MEC has expressed condolences to the family of the councillor and to the community of Mtubatuba, which Mkhwanazi served, as well as to the African National Congress in the region.

Hlomuka also called on community members to come forward with any information that could assist in the arrests and prosecution of those who were responsible for the crime.

African News Agency