Councillor assassinated for exposing corruption

PHENDUKANI Mabhida, an ANC councillor (Ward 18) in the Mandeni Local Municipality, was outspoken about corruption and mismanagement, especially contracts being awarded to certain companies that were favoured by some cadres in their executive committee.

Instead of being lauded, he lost his life last week when he was gunned down and his sister was also injured in the attack.

The hit on Mabhida happened hours before he was due to appear before a committee that was to have deliberated over the grievances he raised.

Police confirmed suspects were arrested hours after Mabhida’s killing.

This was followed by a further three suspects who were linked to his murder, the death of two off-duty police Constables and the attempted murder of four other people at a tavern in Sundumbili, also last week, were killed during a gunfight with police on Saturday.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Bhambayi, Inanda.

On January 31, Mabhida wrote to the local General Gizenga Mpanza Region about the corruption allegations he made.

“I wish to request to be released in all meetings of the Council of Mandeni Municipality and allow comrades to perform their duties freely.

“I realised that I am the only Councillor who is against corruption and poor management within the municipality. I also realised that no one within our caucus understands that we have to debate issues within the caucus and get proper clarifications. Instead, the ANC caucus has become a platform where comrades defend their friends without thinking about the reputation of the ANC.”

In the letter, he said the ANC was currently being accused of corruption by many people and “if as a representative of the organisation I try to ensure that its reputation is protected, our comrades become offended and defend officials and their wrongdoings. I understand I’m the only person who has no interest in corruption in that municipality.”

Mabhida further warned that “the calibre of some colleagues is dangerous” in the organisation.

“On Monday (January 27 ) we had our caucus meeting as usual and we deliberated on an item on the Exco agenda and didn’t agree about defending wrongdoings of the officials which required consequence management. Their actions cost the municipality to not achieve a clean audit, and companies were appointed while they didn't comply with requirements. Our previous audit report findings were a similar thing,” Mabhida’s letter read.

He said that he was unhappy because, in the caucus, some councillors were saying it is good to have officials who are making the same mistakes. He added that in some instances, an official was employed with a fraudulent qualification.

He mentioned one councillor who humiliated him in the council on January 28, and even accused him of working with the opposition parties - just because he had asked tough questions.

“I request to not attend any meeting of the municipality so that I don’t have to question issues,” Mabhida said in the letter.

Siphesihle Zulu, secretary-general of the ANC General Gizenga Mpanza Region said they received Mabhida’s letter on January 31 and had expected him to provide more details about the issues raised.

“We are aware of the letter. The steps had to start with him explaining everything he had written.”

Zulu pleaded with the public not to speculate on the motive behind the murder and praised police for the arrests.

“We hope that when the trial resumes, we will find the person who ordered the hit. Mandeni is volatile, there have been multiple shooting incidents. It looks like the criminals are now running the show,” he said.

Mandeni’s Speaker, Phindile Sishi, confirmed that they received Mabhida’s letter and the concerns would be addressed through internal processes.

Sishi added that as a Council, “we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our fellow Councillor”, Phendukani Mabhida, who fell victim to a “senseless” attack.

Sishi said: “We had planned a meeting with the late Councillor Mabhida to further get more information about the letter he wrote. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday. The next day, the Council did resolve AG matters to be given to MPAC (Municipal Public Accounts Committee) for investigation as part of the internal process.”

ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said that the provincial leadership had been made aware of Mabhida’s letter, even though it had not officially reached the provincial office.

He said it would be dangerous to speculate on the motive behind Mabhida’s death, but would allow the family time to grieve.

“We would like to thank the police for acting fast by arresting the suspects. This is what the ANC has been calling for for some time now. We hope that if there are more people involved, including those who hired hitmen, that they will be arrested and brought to book,” Mndebele said.

DAILY NEWS