Another official in Mpumalanga mysteriously murdered
By Bongekile Macupe and Mandla Khoza | Mar 30, 2016 | COMMENTS [ 10 ]
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The SA Communist Party (SACP) in Mpumalanga wants to raise "sharply" the issue of political killings at the alliance summit in Nelspruit this weekend.
CAPTION: Slain:Sammy Mpatlanyane, head of communication for Mpumalanga arts and culture. PHOTO: ANDREW HLONGWANE
Speaking to Sowetan last night, SACP provincial secretary Bonakele Majuba, said the killings needed to come to an end and those behind them must be brought to book.
The latest killing in the province is that of Moreko Mahlobogoana, 36, who worked in the JS Moroka local municipality in Siyabuswa.
His body was found in the Siyabuswa graveyard on Friday, while his car was found abandoned in Waterval section in the area on the same day.
According to a 2014 report by the Institute for Security Studies into political killings more than 90% of these killings have taken place in KwaZulu-Natal, followed closely by Mpumalanga.
The report revealed that between January 2009 to May 2014 there were 54 incidents of political killings in KZN. It further found that about 14 people have died in political killings in Mpumalanga since 1998.
Mpumalanga police spokesman, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the killers of Mahlobogoana were unknown and he asked for the community's help in tracing the suspects.
Mohlala said police believed this death might be associated with the issues in the municipality, internally and outside.
"We are asking for anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the Siyabuswa police station at 013-973-1301," Mohlala said.
Majuba said it was worrying that even though these killings were on the rise people were not being prosecuted for them.
He cited the "main" killings as those of Mbombela municipal speaker Jimmy Mohlala and SACP leader Bomber Ntshangase, and that both had not been resolved.
"We will be raising the issue sharply at the alliance summit over the weekend," Majuba said.
"We can't have people living in fear of leaving their homes because they might be killed. We believe people who kill others must be arrested, that's how a normal society operates. But it's abnormal in Mpumalanga because people are not arrested. We've got people who are untouchable because how else do you explain why are they not arrested.
"We hope that all of us will come out with a common call that those killings must [lead to] convictions."
Majuba added that there was some hope as the Ntshangase murder case was back in court.
Dr JS Moroka municipal manager Benny Mahlangu said yesterday he was shocked when police called to inform him of Mahlobogoana's murder.
"Police asked me if I know any one who might have been following him because the way he was killed really raises questions," Mahlangu said.
Political killings in Mpumalanga attracted the attention of then national police commissioner Bheki Cele and prompted him to appoint 12 highly trained investigators to deal with them in 2012.
However, the report on the killings had not been made public and Majuba called for it to be released.
The report by the Institute for Security Studies also found that political killings were spreading to other provinces such as North West and these were directed at anti-corruption whistle-blowers.
It mentioned the murder of Rustenburg ANC councillor Moss Phakoe in 2009, and that of ANC regional secretary Obuti Chika in 2012.
A recent murder linked to political killings in North West is that of prominent businessman Wandile Bozwana who was killed last year.
http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2016/03/30/another-official-in-mpumala...
