A senior municipal official in the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) run Newcastle local municipality in the politically volatile northern KwaZulu-Natal was on Monday morning left injured after gunmen attacked him while he was travelling to work.

Dr Dumisani Thabethe, the director for corporate services in the troubled municipality, was injured with his bodyguards.

According to a statement from the municipality, Thabethe was attacked shortly after leaving his home and heading for work when the incident happened.

The motive for the attack is not yet known.

“The Municipality confirms that a serious and deliberate criminal attack occurred in the early hours of this morning involving the Senior Executive Director for Corporate Services. Preliminary information confirms that the Senior Executive Director was attacked by unknown suspects while en route to work, shortly after departing from his residence. The attack involved the discharge of firearms.

“The Senior Executive Director and his two assigned bodyguards sustained injuries and were transported to a medical facility, where they are currently receiving treatment.

“This matter is being investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), under the authority of the Newcastle Police Station. At this stage, no motive has been established and no arrests have been made. The Municipality wishes to state categorically that it will not entertain speculation, conjecture, or the politicisation of this criminal act while investigations are underway,” the municipality said in a statement.

The attack on Thabethe is the second one within a period of seven, as in June last year, while he was holding the fort as the acting municipal manager, he was attacked while on his way home and survived.