Murdered ANC ward 18 Mandeni Local Municipality councillor Phendukani Mabhida had exposed corruption and mismanagement where companies favoured by some cadres in the executive committee were awarded contracts even though they did not meet the requirements.
He was gunned down on Tuesday and his sister was wounded, hours before he had been expected to appear before the committee to have his grievance deliberated.
Police said suspects were arrested hours after the incident - while three suspects, linked to Mabhida’s murder and the killing of two off-duty police Constables and the attempted murder of four other people at a tavern in Sundumbili on Tuesday, 4 January, were killed by police on Saturday.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Bhambayi in Inanda on Saturday afternoon.
On January 31, 2025, Mabhida wrote to the General Gizenga Mpanza regional executive committee saying that the caucus has become a platform where comrades come to defend their friends:
“I wish to request to be released in all meetings of the Council of Mandeni Municipality and allow comrades to perform their duties freely.
“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.”
In the letter, he said the ANC is currently being accused of corruption by many people and “if as a representative of the organisation 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.”
Mabhida further warned that “the calibre of some colleagues is dangerous” in the organisation.
“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 to not achieve clean audit, companies were appointed while they don’t comply. Our previous audit report findings was a similar thing,” Mabhida’s letter read.
He said that he was unhappy because, in the caucus, some councillors were saying it is good to have officials who are making the same mistakes. He added that in some instances, an official was employed with a fraudulent qualification.
He mentioned one councillor who humiliated him in the council on January 28, 2025, and even accused him of working with the opposition parties - just because he had asked questions.
“I request to be allowed to not attend any meeting of the municipality so that I cannot question anything,” Mabhida said in the letter.
Siphesihle Zulu, secretary-general of the ANC General Gizenga Mpanza region said they received Mabhida’s letter on 31 January 2025 and had expected him to come in and give them more details about the issues raised.
“We are aware of the letter. The steps had to start with him to explain everything he had written.”
He pleaded with the public not to speculate on the motive behind the murder and praised police for the arrests.
“We hope that when the trial resumes, we will find the person who ordered a hit. Mandeni is volatile, there have been multiple shooting incidents. It looks like the criminals are now running the show,” he said.
Mandeni Local Municipality Speaker Phindile Sishi confirmed that they received Mabhida’s letter and the concerns would be addressed through internal processes.
Sishi added that as a Council, “we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our fellow Councillor”, Phendukani Mabhida, who fell victim to a “senseless” attack.
Sishi said: “We had planned a meeting with late Cllr Mabhida to further get more information on the letter. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday. The Thursday Council did resolve on AG matters to be given to MPAC (Municipal Public Accounts Committee) for investigation as the internal process.”
ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said that the provincial leadership had been made aware of Mabhida’s letter, even though it had not officially reached the provincial office.
He said it would be dangerous to speculate on the motive behind Mabhida’s death, but would allow the family to grieve.
“We would like to thank the police for acting fast by arresting the suspects. This is what the ANC has been calling for for some time now. We hope that if there are more people involved, including those who hired hitmen, that they are arrested and brought to book,” Mndebele said.
