Nkululeko Gwala was a loyal member of the ANC in Durban. But he really didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. He was expelled from the party for speaking out against corruption. And when this failed to silence him, his enemies tried twelve bullets on a dark winter night. By NIKI MOORE.

S'bu Zikode was the last person to speak to Nkululeko Gwala on 26 June 2013. "He phoned me several times," said S'bu, "he wanted to see me urgently that night. He said he had evidence of corruption and he wanted to give it to me to keep in a safe place. He knew that his house was not safe. But I said, let's meet tomorrow morning. Early. Nothing can happen. Come to my office tomorrow morning."

But something did happen. Nkululeko (34) was shot dead from behind at point-blank range while walking home from the local shebeen where he had been watching soccer. The two suspects who were arrested and then released, have been threatening community members with reprisals.

Gwala's murder made headlines because a few hours before he was killed, a senior ANC politician told a public meeting that Gwala was a trouble-maker, and should be removed...