The police in Rustenburg have launched a manhunt for the killers of a ward councillor in Photsaneng village, outside Rustenburg in North West. The ANC councillor, Poppy Morapedi (54) was shot while walking home from a shop with her niece on Friday night.

THREAT ON HER LIFE?

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said according to information available at this stage, the victim and her niece were approaching the gate when one of the four unknown men who were following them, got closer and fired two shots. "The victim's niece ran into the yard and screamed for help. As a result, the victim's brother got out of the house and spotted the suspects running away and eventually fled from the place with a BMW vehicle," Mokgwabone said. Her brother, Abram Morapedi told SABC News that there have been threats on her life. "We are very hurt as a family because our sister was killed right in front of her gate, her killers hid behind the tree here. Some said there had been threats made against her life,' Abram said. 

 MOTIVE UNKNOWN

According to Mokgwabone, Morapedi was shot below the left ear and forehead. She was declared dead on the scene by the Emergency and Medical Services (EMS). "The motive of the incident is yet to be established and investigations are underway. No arrest has been made yet," Mokgwabone added. 

TASK TEAM APPOINTED TO DEAL WITH POLITICAL KILLINGS 

During a media briefing yesterday at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, police Minister, Bheki Cele said they have appointed a task team to deal with political killings ahead of the national and provincial elections. "Special teams have been put in place to deal with that. I think in Mpumalanga there is progress that has been made to chase those people that have killed those councillors. We are also working hard with communities to prevent this from happening.? Earlier this month, another ANC councillor Thabo Ngwenya was shot dead while watching TV with his family. Four criminals wearing balaclavas stormed his home and demanded money, cellphones, and car keys before shooting the 35-year-old Ngwenya. They went on to assault his wife and also robbed her. No one has been arrested in his murder yet.