'Third of Tshwane councillors associated with criminals'

Source claims party warned that they would end up dead

- By Staff Reporter

Senior Tshwane ANC sources have made a shocking allegation that at least 30% of councillors in the metro are thugs who work with criminals to the detriment of their communities.

These allegations follow the killing of ANC ward-10 councillor Thabang Masemola in Mamelodi, who was shot dead at his local spaza shop on Tuesday.

According to police spokesperson Marinda Austin, Masemola had recently purchased a new vehicle. At the time he was showing it off to a friend.

Austin said they stopped to “buy food in Malapana Street and to speak to another friend”.

“During their conversation, an unknown male wearing a jacket with a hoodie approached the victim, produced a firearm, and without any warning, fired several shots.”

The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.

Sunday World learnt that former regional secretary and now task team coordinator George Matjila was first to express worry that party councillors were embedded with criminals.

According to a source, Masemola was feared in the community, even by ANC branch members, “because he was quick to resort to violence”.