KEY POINTS
- Mashoza Malaza, a businessman targeted for his lucrative mining contracts, was assassinated in Mhluzi, Mpumalanga, and will be buried on Saturday.
- He survived a previous assassination attempt in February 2023 and a bombing at his home, suspecting a syndicate with political ties was behind the attacks.
- His death highlights the violent competition for mining contracts in Mpumalanga, with calls for urgent action to address the ongoing threat to business owners.
Mashoza Malaza, the businessman recently assassinated in Mhluzi, Mpumalanga, will be laid to rest on Saturday. Malaza, the latest victim in a string of violent attacks targeting businessmen in the province, was gunned down in full view of a crowd on Sunday evening in Phumula, Mhluzi, at around 22:10.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the community and highlighted the deadly competition for mining contracts in the region.
According to the Mpumalanga police, Malaza was shot seven times, and 11 cartridges from a 9mm handgun were found at the scene. His attackers remain at large, raising concerns about the ongoing threat to other business owners in the area.
Malaza, born in Siyathuthuka, Belfast, had moved to Middelburg to settle with his wife and children. He was the owner of UMI Plant Hire, a business that won a significant bid with Exxaro in 2021, a contract that allegedly made him a target.
Since securing the lucrative mining contract, Malaza had faced multiple assassination attempts. In February 2023, he was ambushed by a hitman using an R1-automatic rifle while driving out of his driveway with his daughters in Belfast.
“I was shot through the car windscreen and lost my eyesight temporarily. I underwent multiple surgeries to recover,” Malaza revealed during an exclusive interview with a Middelburg Observer journalist in 2023 while in hiding. The attack left him severely injured but determined to continue his fight for survival and justice.
A Life Under Threat – Malaza’s Home Bombed, Syndicate Suspected
While recovering in the hospital, Malaza’s home in Siyathuthuka was bombed using mining explosives. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the explosion, but the incident underscored the lengths to which his attackers were willing to go. Malaza believed that a powerful syndicate, including businessmen with political ties, was behind the attacks. “I suspect these attacks are orchestrated by individuals who stand to benefit from my death. They want control of the mining contracts,” he said during the interview.
The assassination of Malaza has reignited concerns about the safety of business owners in Mpumalanga, particularly those involved in the mining sector.
The province, rich in mineral resources, has become a hotspot for violent competition over contracts, with several businessmen reportedly targeted in recent years. Community leaders and political figures have called for urgent intervention to address the escalating violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Malaza’s funeral is expected to draw a large crowd, including family, friends, and colleagues from the mining industry.
Many will remember him not only as a successful businessman but also as a man who fought tirelessly against the forces seeking to destroy him. His death has left a void in the community and raised questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in protecting citizens from such targeted violence.
