Police are investigating a murder after a 40-year-old woman, an employee of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, was shot and killed in broad daylight in Vanderbijlpark. The victim was waiting at a local tyre shop for her puncture to be fixed when an unknown gunman opened fire on her before fleeing the scene. She was declared dead at the scene, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
MK Party’s Sedibeng regional representative Mpumelelo Mnisi expressed deep disappointment over the killing. He said he had been contacted by a member about the incident and went to the scene but was unable to get close due to the heavy police presence. Mnisi stated that the woman had been in contact with him and was preparing to hand over internal information about irregularities at the municipality, similar to information provided by others who have come forward.
According to Mnisi, the information concerned how projects were being handled through the supply chain at the Emfuleni Local Municipality. He declined to go into further detail on the nature of the alleged irregularities but urged people not to circulate video footage of the incident, describing it as hurtful to the victim’s family.
When asked whether he believed the woman had been specifically targeted, Mnisi pointed out that nothing was taken from her and that the gunman shot her in the head before firing additional shots to ensure she did not survive. “It shows that the person definitely targeted her,” he said, describing the attacker as a coward.
Mnisi, who has been active on municipal issues in the area, confirmed that he has opened cases with the police related to fraud and corruption at the Emfuleni Local Municipality. He alleged that officials had been involved in purchasing cars that were never delivered. He claimed to possess documentary evidence dating back to 2018, including a police report from that year, and said no arrests had been made despite the cases being known.
He further stated that he has opened five cases involving officials at the municipality and indicated that he intends to submit the evidence directly to senior police officials, including General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and General Dumisani Khumalo, as well as to the Madlanga Commission. Mnisi expressed frustration that justice has not been served in previous cases of alleged misconduct in municipalities and warned that the failure to act was creating an environment where people seeking development or exposing wrongdoing could be killed.
Police have confirmed that a murder docket has been opened and that investigations are ongoing.
The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns about governance and safety in the Emfuleni area, with Mnisi calling on senior police leadership to ensure that such cases are properly addressed.
