Corruption Leads To Protests

On Monday, 30 June, City of Ekurhuleni forensic audit head Mpho Mafole was shot and killed on the R23 highway near Esselen Park. It did not take long before his death was labelled an assassination.

- Sydney Majoko

Rumour has it that the forensic investigator had discovered what caused a R2 billion shortfall in the city's budget.

In fact, it was not what, but who was responsible for the shortfall because of their illegal actions of deleting electricity charges on just over 1600 municipal accounts.

And for identifying the culprits, he was killed.

The South African Federation of Trade Unions did not beat about the bush in describing Mafole's death an assassination: "Mpho Mafole was assassinated. This was no robbery or random act of violence."

Ekurhuleni's biggest township, Tembisa, mobilised for a shutdown of the area yesterday.

The reason for the protest?

An electricity surcharge ranging from R110 to R204 per month for all households and businesses in the municipality - except for indigent households.

Is there a link between the R2 billion budget shortfall that led to the suspected assassination of the auditor and the introduction of the electricity surcharge?