The SACP and Cosatu have expressed disappointment in ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu, who is among eight suspects arrested for ANC regional secretary Obuti Chika’s murder.

Chika was gunned down at his home in the early hours of December 14 last year, two days before the ANC elective conference in Mangaung.

SACP provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha and his counterpart at Cosatu, Solly Phetoe, said they were shocked and disappointed at Dodovu’s alleged involvement in Chika’s killing.

“It is deeply regrettable that the name of the people’s movement, the ANC, is being associated with such regressive and appalling events,” Sambatha said.

He commended the police for the speedy arrests of the suspects and expressed hope that Chika’s family would find closure.

“They (police) must do their job and ensure that all those involved be brought to book irrespective of stature or affiliation. The SACP would like to appeal to members of the alliance to separate acts of individuals from the ANC.”

Phetoe called on ANC members to allow the law to take its course and not be divided along factional lines over the arrests, as was the case during the trial into the death of whistleblower ANC councillor Moss Phakoe last year.

“We want to repeat what we said during the case of the late Moss Phakoe, who was killed and the case took almost four years while the so-called ‘hands-off and hands-on’ were dividing the ANC.

“We appeal to everybody to let the law do what it is expected to do. Those who are implicated, those who played a role in the killing of Chika must face the court and explain to the public why they killed the leader of the ANC,” he said.

He added that those arrested should tell the truth.

“The law must do its duty, whether it is the MEC or a councillor, a worker or anybody who was part of the plan; they must face the music,” he said.
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