A councillor and two fellow party members who were reported missing last week Friday have been found murdered in Umhlanga, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) councillor, Qedukwazi Mzimela, his friends Phumlani Mbutho and Senzo Ngema left Umzinto in the south of KZN to meet with a client for a meeting on 15 March in the upmarket Umhlanga area and were never seen alive again.

It is alleged that the car the trio were travelling in was found abandoned with the tracker removed and dumped somewhere else. In a statement released by the ABC, the president Philani Mavundla confirmed Mzimela, Mbutho and Ngema's were murdered. "ABC is saddened by the tragic passing of its members in the Umdoni Local Municipality. The Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) was saddened to hear of the untimely passing of three of its members who were abducted and then brutally murdered over the weekend."

The party said the members will be remembered for their diligent activism and servant leadership. "The ABC extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and fellow ABC members," Mavundla said in the statement. He also called on law enforcement to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book. "As we grieve collectively for our comrades and friends, we implore all affected parties as well as members of the media to let the law run its course as well as to afford the families privacy while they seek answers and justice for their loved ones," he said. May their souls rest in peace. Hambani kahle bakhethwa. Siyohlezi sinikhumbula (They must rest in peace. We will forever remember them)"