On an ordinary Tuesday morning in Hillbrow, a small gesture turned a bustling street into a crime scene. Outside Esselen Clinic, Mcedisi Mqushana, a staff member at the ANC’s national headquarters, sat in his car, waiting. It should have been just another stop in his day.
Then, a woman walked past his vehicle, glanced inside, and pointed at him before quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Seconds later, two men appeared. Without hesitation, they fired multiple shots through the car window, shattering glass and silencing the street. Witnesses say there were so many shots—about 23 bullet casings were later found—that even seasoned police officers were shaken.
The panic in Hillbrow
For the patients and staff at Esselen Clinic, the sound of gunfire was like an explosion. People screamed and scrambled for cover, nurses slammed shut clinic doors, and strangers pulled one another to safety.
“All I remember is the bang, then panic,” recalls a nurse who was at the entrance when the shooting started. “People were crying, running into the clinic, hiding behind chairs.”
Police arrived within minutes. Two suspects, both young men from KwaZulu-Natal, were chased down just one street away. They were reportedly still armed when caught. According to officers, they surrendered only after realising they were surrounded. The woman who pointed at Mqushana is still on the run.
Who was Mcedisi Mqushana?
Mqushana’s family describe him as a calm, respected man who rarely spoke about politics at home. Born in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape, he worked at Chief Luthuli House—the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg. His brother-in-law, Vuyile Nobangela, says the family is “shattered” and struggling to understand why he was targeted.
“He wasn’t a man with enemies,” Nobangela says softly. “We just want answers.”
Political killings: a dangerous trend
While the motive for this killing is not yet confirmed, police are investigating whether it may have been linked to revenge for an earlier incident.
South Africa has been grappling with a surge in targeted political killings—especially within the ANC. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found that assassinations linked to politics have increased sharply in the past decade, with KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng topping the list.
From councillors to branch leaders, being involved in politics in certain parts of South Africa can be life-threatening. Competition for positions, access to municipal contracts, and local power struggles often turn deadly.
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Hillbrow’s history with violence
Hillbrow is no stranger to shootings. Just last year, a taxi owner was killed at a busy rank on Goldreich Street, and an e-hailing driver was fatally shot in a similar daylight attack. The area’s high population density, mix of cultures, and deep economic inequalities make it a hotspot for organised crime.
Locals say they’ve learned to read the street—who’s watching, who’s moving too fast, and when to leave a corner before trouble starts. But on that Tuesday morning, nothing seemed out of the ordinary until the shots rang out.
Similar cases in recent years
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In the Eastern Cape, ANC official Mncedisi Gijana was ambushed at his home in KwaBhaca in 2024. Police linked his killing to political tensions in the region.
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In KwaZulu-Natal, several councillors have been gunned down over alleged disputes tied to local government contracts.
These killings are often well-planned, with shooters using lookouts—like the woman seen pointing at Mqushana—to avoid mistakes.
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The justice gap
South Africa’s murder conviction rate is low, and political assassinations are even harder to solve. Witnesses fear coming forward, and cases drag on for years.
Police in Johannesburg say the arrests in Mqushana’s case were quick because they were already nearby when the shots were fired. But the key question remains: who ordered the hit, and why?
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The community response
In the days after the shooting, Hillbrow’s streets returned to their usual rhythm—but with a heavier sense of caution. Community leaders are calling for more visible policing and for the ANC to address internal conflicts before they spill into public violence.
“This isn’t just about one man,” says a local shop owner. “It’s about a system that lets guns decide who wins in politics.”
Could it have been prevented?
Security experts say incidents like this could be reduced with:
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More specialised police units for political crimes.
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Witness protection programmes that actually work.
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Better intelligence-sharing between communities and law enforcement.
Until then, political figures—whether national officials or ward councillors—will remain at risk.
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Final thoughts
Mcedisi Mqushana’s killing is not just a tragic loss for his family—it’s another warning sign about the dangers lurking in South African politics. Without accountability, the cycle will continue, and more families will mourn in silence.
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Tags: #Hillbrow #PoliticalViolence #ANC #SouthAfricaCrime #TargetedKillings
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