Police are investigating a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property after a shot was fired into a KZN mayor’s house.
|||Durban - Police are investigating a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property after a shot was fired through Richmond mayor Andrew Ragavaloo’s dining room window early on Monday.
Ragavaloo said he was woken just before 1am by five gunshots. He immediately contacted the police who came quickly, but could not find the shooter.
After sunrise, he discovered a bullet hole in a window and a bullet lodged in the television cabinet.
Ragavaloo suspected the shooting might be linked to a meeting of the ANC Richmond sub-region, which had taken place the previous day.
“There are factions in the ANC and other people who want us removed. They want to destabilise Richmond,” he said.
The shooting could also be related to the on-going protests against the taxi fare increase in the town, he said.
Earlier this month, taxi routes in Indaleni and Magoda near Richmond were blocked by disgruntled commuters over a R1 fare rise.
Trees were cut down and used to block roads. In Indaleni, the felled trees brought down power lines. Drain pipes and burning tyres were also placed on the roads.
Ragavaloo said
while he was able to handle the shooting, it had affected his family badly. ”For me it goes with the territory… I am concerned about my family. I also have children who live in Richmond.”
ANC sub-region chairman Msizi Mkhize said many issues had been discussed at the meeting, among them the fare increase.
While he conceded people had expressed unhappiness with the mayor, he refused to divulge details.
Police spokeswoman Joey Jeevan confirmed a case had been opened.
The Mercury