A heartfelt gesture, Mayor Princess Faku extended her apologies to the family of the late Nceba Ncunyana, Buffalo City Metro’s former chief of infrastructure and engineering services. The apology follows the tragic incident that occurred on October 11, where Ncunyana, aged 52, was fatally shot on the N2 near Ntabozuko (formerly Berlin) while returning from inspecting a wastewater treatment facility in Zwelitsha. During the attack, his vehicle was ambushed, and two of his guards were also injured.
Ncunyana had faced previous assassination attempts in September 2021 and August 2022, leading to heightened security measures to protect him. A funeral ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Calvary Church in Quigney, East London.
Mayor Faku expressed her deep regret for the unfortunate turn of events and acknowledged Nceba Ncunyana’s lifelong dedication to serving the people of Buffalo City Metro. She specifically addressed Ncunyana’s tribe, the oodlamini family, stating, “To the oodlamini family, I sincerely apologize. This was the last thing any of us expected to happen. I feel like I’ve let Nceba down as the executive mayor.”
Recognizing the potential impact of this tragedy on department heads and their willingness to make bold decisions, Mayor Faku assured that the city would do everything in its power to ensure the safety of its employees.
The mayor condemned Ncunyana’s murder as a senseless act and suggested that his killers had carefully planned their actions, deliberately forcing him into seclusion. She emotionally added, “Nceba was a pillar of this town” and called for the swift capture and punishment of those responsible.
Ncunyana had dedicated approximately 25 years to local government service, according to city manager Mxolisi Yawa. Even in his final moments, he remained committed to vital city services, and his engineering expertise had played a crucial role in the city’s development.
