City of Ekurhuleni’s head of Corporate and Forensic Audits Mpho Mafole’s assassination on June 30 is linked to various cases of corruption he was working on. Photo: Supplied

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City of Ekurhuleni’s head of Corporate and Forensic Audits Mpho Mafole’s assassination on June 30 has been linked to various cases internal of corruption he was working on.

The link to the fatal shooting Mafole was made by the Chairperson of Public Interest SA Tebogo Khaas, who said at the time of assassination, Mafole was working on various cases of corruption liked to several senior City of Ekurhuleni officials most of whom are currently suspended pending investigations into various forms of misconduct.

“Public Interest South Africa is deeply shocked and outraged by the brutal assassination of Mafole, who was gunned down in what appears to have been a targeted killing. Mafole was shot and killed on Monday while driving along the R23 in Esselen Park, Kempton Park.

“He had just assumed his critical role at the City three months ago, bringing with him more than 14 years of distinguished service at the Auditor-General of South Africa’s office. His appointment was widely welcomed as a credible step toward restoring governance and accountability in a municipality increasingly mired in allegations of corruption and maladministration,” Khaas said.

He described his assassination as ‘a devastating blow to the fight against corruption and raises serious concerns about the safety of professionals working to uphold the integrity of public institutions’.

“It is particularly troubling that Mafole was killed while actively leading high-stakesb forensic investigations, potentially involving powerful interests within and beyond the

municipal administration. Several senior City officials are currently suspended pending investigations into various forms of misconduct,” Khaas added.

He said Public Interest SA was calling for a full-scale, independent investigation into Mafole’s assassination. “We further urge the South African Police Service, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, and other competent law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators — and any masterminds behind this heinous act — to justice.

“This tragedy underscores the urgent need for the South African government to institute robust whistleblower and anti-corruption defender protection mechanisms. Those who expose wrongdoing or work within institutions to root out corruption must be shielded from harm — not punished with death,” Kaas said.