THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) today condemned the killing of three of its shop stewards late on Wednesday.

Numsa’s Isithebe local secretary Njabulo Ndebele, his deputy Sibonelo “John-John” Ntuli and Ntobeko Maphumulo were killed in KwaZulu-Natal province. 

Another Numsa member was with them at the time and is now in hospital in critical condition as a result of wounds received in the shooting. 

The three were shot by gunmen in an unidentified car as they travelled back to Isithebe from a union meeting in Durban. 

Numsa said ”their untimely and senseless death robs the union three of the best and most promising workers and trade union leaders in our province as well as removing the breadwinners from three families.” 

The union called on its members in Isithebe to remain calm and allow the police to investigate the circumstances that led to the killings.