The wife of an ANC councillor and two alleged hitmen were arrested last week in connection with the assassination attempt on Thulamela Municipality´s Ward 17 ANC councillor, Alpheus Mmbudzeni Mulandana (54) of Dzwerani. He was shot and critically injured in an incident a fortnight ago.

Mulandana was asleep at his home when the unknown intruders gained entry to his house and shot him several times all over the body and left him for dead. His wife is alleged to have fled the house and sought refuge with a neighbour, without telling them what had happened. It was only in the morning of the following day that she informed them about the incident and Mulandana was taken to a local hospital. He miraculously survived and was later transferred to a hospital in Polokwane, where he is recuperating.

Almost a week later, the police made a major breakthrough when they arrested the wife of the counillor and two alleged hitmen that the police suspect she hired to kill her husband. The motive for the attempted killing has not been disclosed.

Cllr Mulandana’s wife, Kendy (48), and two alleged hitmen, Wilson Mulaudzi (62) and his son Shumani (34), were arrested and appeared in the Vuwani Magistrate´s Court on a charge of attempted murder. The case was postponed.

The case has left the community in deep shock as Mulandana is regarded as a man of the people, dedicating all his time to serving his people. Rudzani Mulaudzi, the ward 17 secretary, said they were still in a state of shock, but were only consoled by the speed with which the police made their arrests. He urged all peace-loving community members to attend the bail hearing, so as to add their voices against the granting of bail to the suspects. He said the community believed that the suspects might interfere with investigations if granted bail.

Limpopo police spokesperson Mohale Ramatseba confirmed the arrests and said investigations were at a sensitive stage. He urged all who have information about the case to come forward.