How Will Parliament Protect Its Members Following the IFP’s Sithole Assassination?

(The Post News)- The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has urged parliament to improve the protection of its members of parliament following the death of its deputy chief whip, Kethamabala Petros Sithole, who died from gunshot wounds on Saturday, May 31.

In a statement released by the party, Sithole died on Saturday evening in what is believed to be an assassination. The 68-year-old was shot in Katlehong, Johannesburg, together with the party’s NEC and Gauteng Secretary, Alderman Ngobese. Ngobese was injured and rushed to the hospital. He said they were attending a branch inauguration in Ward 59, Ekurhuleni, when a gunman appeared out of nowhere and began shooting at them.

Police are investigating the fatal shooting and have assured the public that they are treating the matter with utmost urgency. In a statement, IFP’s national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, said the party had lost a hardworking leader, referring to Sithole as a “trusted patriot and diligent leader.”

Sithole’s political career progressed from Ekurhuleni as a councillor to a member of the Gauteng Legislature, which he served in from 2009 to 2010. He has been a member of parliament since 2010, serving on four portfolio committees, including Public Works, Human Settlement, Sports and Recreation, and Transport. Sithole joined the IFP in 1979 during his school years and served as Gauteng Provincial Chairperson in 2016.

Members of parliament paid tribute to Sithole and expressed sympathy to his family and friends. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, described Sithole as a calm and principled voice in the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies in Parliament. Malatsi reflected on Sithole’s dedication to bridging the digital divide in rural areas and improving service delivery.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza remembered Sithole as a unifying force, noting that since his appointment as a member of parliament, Sithole had contributed to shaping the parliament’s legislative agenda.

The ANC has condemned the attack and called for immediate intervention by the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. The party honors Sithole’s legacy, marked by his unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation, and the transformation of hostels, earning him respect from colleagues across the political divide.