The ANC in Durban is disappointed that its leader was arrested in connection with the Durban police killings.

The officers, Inspector Lindo Madonsela, and Inspector Ndumiso Thusi, were shot dead in Mpumalanga in an emergency vehicle in June last year.

The ANC’s secretary for ward 7 in Ntshongweni, Thulani ‘Holly’ Shozi, was reportedly accompanied by his lawyer Bulelani Mazomba to the police after a national task force investigating the killings of politicians in KwaZulu-Natal raided them.

Mazomba is best known for being part of a team representing former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, on corruption charges.

Shozi appeared briefly last Monday in court in Hammarsdale, and will return to court today. The secretary is expected to appear with another young man accused of bullying who is also said to be involved in the killings. According to the new boundaries, Ntshongweni is now merged with Mpumalanga, becoming one ward.

The ANC’s interim eThekwini team leader, Bheki Ntuli, said the party was “deeply saddened” by the arrest of a senior member of police.

He said although they would not comment further as Shozi was still a suspect, it was not a good thing to hear that the party’s leader was involved in such matters as it would tarnish the organisation’s reputation.

“We have heard of Shozi’s arrest in this case but we will wait for the law to take its course. We will not talk too much and ask people to give the law its place, ”said Ntuli.

Madonsela was once the chairperson of the ANC Youth League in Mpumalanga. At the time of his assassination, he was the RRU’s co-ordinator for Thabani Nyawose, who is chairing eThekwini. At the funeral, Nyawose delivered the keynote address on behalf of the ANC.

Madonsela’s mother, Jane Madonsela, who was in court on Monday, said she was “very happy” that someone had been arrested for her son’s death.