IFP Deputy Chief Whip in Parliament was assassinated on Saturday night in Katlehong

Inkatha Freedom Party(IFP) has announced last night that Kethamabala Petros Sithole a Member of Parliament and Deputy Chief Whip was assassinated on that particular night at Katlehong in Gauteng province.

Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP,IFP National Spokesperson said it is with shock,sadness and utter grief that the IFP announces the untimely passing of Hon Kethamabala Petros Sithole MP (68) who was assassinated in Katlehong earlier this evening by unknown assailants.

Hlengwa mentioned that KP Sithole was a member of the IFP's National Council and served as the Party's Deputy Chief Whip in Parliament.

When he announced his death last night he stated that at the time is was not easy to speculate about who might be responsible for his murder and trusting that the police will find the perpetrator.

He clarified that details are still sketchy at the moment,and it is the IFP's expectation that the law enforcement agencies will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.

He boldly said Hon Sithole was a hard working servant leader of the people and our country.We have lost a trusted patriot and a diligent leader of the IFP.

According to Hlengwa,Jobe joined the IFP in his youth,and served in various Party structures including being IFP Gauteng Provincial Chairperson.He served as a Councillor in Ekurhuleni,and thereafter served a brief stint in the Gauteng Legislature in 2009 to 2010.He was redeployed to the National Assembly in 2010 where he served with diligence until his passing.

He sadly added that the IFP is poorer today with Jobe's passing,and South Africa has lost a good man who served his country par excellence.

He conclude with saying that the IFP extends its sincerest condolences to the Sithole Family.

Grok 3 an artificial intelligence(AI) app revealed that Sithole was a strong advocate for the IFP's philosophy of self-help,self-reliance,and devolution of power.Sithole held a Certificate in Policy Development and Human Settlements and was actively involved in parliamentary committees,including the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements,the Ethics and Members' Interests Joint Committee,and alternate memberships in the Portfolio Committees on Public Works and Infrastructure,Communications and Digital Technologies,and Public Service and Administration.His committee attendance rates varied over the years,with a high of 87% in 2025 and a low of 35% in 2017.