People close to the him maintain that he was sceptical of outsiders, afraid to let anyone he didn’t trust into his world
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Slain IFP councillor Themba Xulu’s first name in full was Thembokwakhe, which translated means “trusting his own” and based his life around it.
People close to the 39-year-old maintain that he was sceptical of outsiders, afraid to let anyone he didn’t trust into his world. So much so that even though he knew his life was in danger, he refused bodyguards, afraid they would turn on him.
But his refusal may have cost him his life. He was kidnapped last Friday by men pretending to be police. His bullet-riddled body was found on the outskirts of Inanda on Sunday.
While Xulu’s murder has come as a shock to his family, others knew that his life was in danger. His brother, Mduduzi, said the family was still shattered by the cruel death of his brother.
“We don’t know who would have wanted to kill such a good person. He was full of life, full of jokes and loved to keep peaceful company,” he said.
Mdu Nkosi, IFP caucus leader in the eThekwini Municipality, said he was aware that Xulu had received death threats.
Nkosi said that when Xulu became a councillor last year he (Nkosi) was the one who approached the city council to provide Xulu with body guards.
“The council was happy to grant him some protection. However, and unfortunately, it was Xulu himself who expressed some reservations regarding people who might guard him.
“His main concern was that he would never trust them. Xulu preferred to have his own guards, people whom he could choose, instead of having them randomly assigned. He was afraid they would sell him out and the idea of having strangers in his car did not sit well with him. He was that kind of person.”
Nkosi said the issue of getting bodyguards was left hanging after threats subsided, but re-emerged in the past months.
“He reported that he was being followed and we resumed the processes. He then said he preferred at least an escort car. We were still discussing his security details when he was taken out,” Nkosi said.
Xulu, 39, is survived by two children, Lindo and Maphili and a fiancée. He is to be buried today in Mtunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.
Police are yet to arrest his killers. - Sunday Tribune