• Thulani Buthelezi was gunned down at his Soweto home, while Zakhele Mathe was shot at a petrol station.

• The city will launch a 24-hour hotline and review its safety policy after talks with police.

The City of Johannesburg is taking steps to keep its councillors safe after two were shot dead in separate attacks.

Thulani Buthelezi, aged 49, was killed at his home in Emdeni, Soweto, on Saturday, 7 June. Zakhele Mathe was shot and killed at a petrol station on Monday, 17 February, according to the Daily Sun.

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Their deaths have created panic among local politicians and led to an emergency meeting on Friday, 13 June.

City Speaker Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, Chair of Chairs Councillor Adolph Marema, and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department bosses met to come up with a plan.

They are reviewing the city's Councillor Safety Policy and have promised to speed up changes.

Chief of Police Patrick Jaca said public representatives must be safe to do their jobs without fear or threats. He said violence should never be used to resolve political differences.

As part of the plan, the city will launch a 24-hour hotline so councillors can report threats or intimidation. Police officers will respond quickly to protect them.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and political party leaders will help rewrite the safety policy and set clear rules for everyone involved.

Workshops will also be held to allow councillors to raise safety concerns and suggest how to improve protection.

Faster reporting and better communication are now top priorities.

In March this year, the City of Johannesburg said it planned to give 10 bodyguards to its councillors after one was killed at a petrol station, but critics say this could bankrupt the city.