KEY POINTS
- Phendukani Mabhida was assassinated just hours before he was to present evidence of corruption within Mandeni Municipality.
- He had documented his concerns in official letters, warning that the ANC was being discredited due to corruption.
- Police arrested several suspects linked to his murder, and three were killed in a shootout with law enforcement.
In a tragic turn of events, ANC Ward 18 Mandeni Local Municipality Councillor Phendukani Mabhida, who was set to expose corruption within the municipality, was gunned down on Tuesday. His sister was also wounded in the attack, which occurred just hours before he was scheduled to present his grievances to the executive committee.
Mabhida had been a vocal critic of corruption and mismanagement in the municipality, where politically connected companies were allegedly awarded contracts despite failing to meet requirements. His relentless pursuit of accountability, which he documented in official correspondences, may have made him a target.
In a letter dated January 31, 2025, addressed to the General Gizenga Mpanza regional executive committee, Mabhida expressed his frustration with how corruption was being normalized within the party structure.
“I wish to request to be released in all meetings of the Council of Mandeni Municipality and allow comrades to perform their duties freely,” he wrote. “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 clarities. Now, the ANC caucus has become a platform where comrades come to defend their friends without thinking about the reputation of the ANC.”
His concerns went beyond internal party politics, as he warned that such misconduct was damaging the ANC’s credibility among the public.
“The ANC is 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 in their wrongdoings. I understand I’m the only person who has no interest in corruption in that municipality.”
His chilling warnings about the risks associated with confronting corrupt elements within the party further hinted at the danger he faced.
“The calibre of some colleagues is dangerous,” Mabhida wrote, further adding that their actions were actively harming the municipality’s ability to function properly.
Mabhida detailed how at an ANC caucus meeting on January 27, 2025, he opposed the shielding of officials whose actions had led to audit failures and financial mismanagement.
“On Monday (27/01/2025) we had our caucus as usual and we deliberated on the item in the EXCO agenda and didn’t agree to defend wrongdoings of the officials which requires consequence management. That cost the municipality the chance to achieve a clean audit. Companies were appointed while they don’t comply. Our previous audit report findings was a similar thing,” he stated.
Arrests and Shootout Follow Assassination
While police have made progress in the case, the circumstances of Mabhida’s murder have raised concerns about political killings tied to corruption in South Africa. Hours after the assassination, authorities arrested several suspects. Three suspects—linked to Mabhida’s murder, as well as the killing of two off-duty police constables and the attempted murder of four others at a tavern in Sundumbili on January 4—were shot dead by police on Saturday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the shootout, stating, “The three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Bhambayi in Inanda on Saturday afternoon.”
The killing of Mabhida has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, reigniting fears of how deep-seated corruption and internal power struggles in municipalities put the lives of whistleblowers at risk. As investigations continue, there are growing calls for authorities to ensure that those responsible for the assassination face justice and that corruption within the municipality is fully exposed and addressed.
