‘His parents are struggling to cope’: Murdered auditor Mpho Mafole was his elderly parents' only child

Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has described the brutally murdered City of Ekurhuleni’s group divisional head of corporate and forensic audits, Mpho Mafole as a dedicated public servant, a fearless champion for accountability, and a staunch advocate for ethical governance.

Mafole, 47, died in a hail of bullets on Monday, in what appears to be an execution. He was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on the R23 in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, while driving home from a meeting. 

Police in Gauteng are investigating the motive behind the murder, but activists and social media users suggest the cold-blooded murder could have been an assassination meant to silence him, linked to his work for the City of Ekurhuleni.

IOL on Thursday spoke to Mafole’s grieving uncle, Sonnyboy Mmatli, who said the family is dealing with heavy devastation.

“The father, Kikilami Mafole, and the mother, Sheila, are both in their 60s. The father has worked as a professional teacher for 41 years. He just retired two months ago. He worked at one school for almost 41 years,” said Mmatli.

“The mother is very sick. She has been very sick for quite a long time. She is on a wheelchair. This is very distressing.

“This is the second time this is happening in the family. One of the brothers in the family died some years ago in the same manner. He was a metro police officer. He was gunned down. Now it has happened a second time. It is very, very disturbing,” Mmatli told IOL.

The Ekurhuleni mayor, Xhakaza, said Mpho had a strong commitment to rooting out corruption and upholding the highest standards of public service, and has made an indelible mark on the city in a very short period of time. 

Mpho joined the City of Ekurhuleni in April, after working at the Auditor General of South Africa for around 15 years.

“Mpho is not only a hero to Ekurhuleni, but a national hero whose legacy must be remembered and honoured,” said the executive mayor.

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jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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