EKURHULENI – The assassination of Mpho Mafole, a senior City of Ekurhuleni auditor, has taken a dramatic turn, with his family now calling on his spirit to seek justice from beyond the grave. Mafole was murdered on 30 June while driving on the R23 near Esselen Park, sparking a complex web of accusations, legal threats, and political intrigue within the municipality.
The funeral service, held at a packed Kempton Park city hall on Sunday, was filled with emotional tributes and haunting cries. A friend of the slain auditor, Brian Mthembu, played one of the last voicenotes he received from Mafole, sending mourners into a sorrowful frenzy.
Just before delivering his tribute, Mthembu said he wanted the audience to hear Mpho’s voice. All of a sudden Mafole’s cheery voice, with Tupac’s song Life Goes On playing in the background, boomed through the speakers. Hearing his voice sent the mourners into a sorrowful frenzy, with some screaming and crying out his name.
His three minor children also broke down as they read their tributes to their late father. “Daddy, you left us too soon. I still think you are away for work and will come back. We are too young and still need you and your advice. As your son, you taught me to be strong. I’m trying my best but it’s hard,” one of his sons said.
The parents of the 44-year-old said they had not only lost their only child but a biggest support system in their family unit. “You taught us so much about life and living in the moment. I can't believe we won't get to see your beautiful smile. This week has been the hardest for us because you were strong for us, especially your mother, and always your father's best friend. We miss you,” read the tribute.
Family, friends and colleagues described Mafole as someone who cared for everyone and constantly reminded them to live in the moment.
Adding to the emotional atmosphere, Mafole's uncle, Sonnyboy Mmatli, directly addressed the spirit of his nephew, urging him to continue the fight for justice even in death. “Kabasia, don’t just sleep, fight for yourself,” Mmatli declared, as Mafole’s inconsolable children returned to their seats. “Do they have to cry like this? What is happening with us Africans? Have we lost it? This boy was still young.”
The assassination occurred just months after Mafole began a forensic audit into manipulated and deleted electricity accounts, believed to be at the centre of a revenue loss of more than R2 billion for the city. This investigation has now taken centre stage, with Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza publicly linking Mafole’s murder to the high-level probe.
Speaking outside Mafole’s home in Kempton Park on Thursday, Xhakaza told journalists that the slain official had been preparing charge sheets against senior officials linked to the billing scandal. "It’s painful to stand before the family and not give them the names of those who are responsible," the mayor added, highlighting the emotional toll of the situation.
The mayor went on to suggest a direct link between Mafole's work and his death, stating, “We don’t want to draw up linkages, but if you are involved in this type of work and you get shot, it can’t be a random thing.” He further implied that the preparation of charge sheets against suspended officials was a dangerous undertaking.
However, these claims have sparked a furious response, with lawyers for suspended chief information officer Moloko Monyepao threatening legal action against the mayor for defamation.
Monyepao’s lawyers at Nozake Attorneys have issued a legal letter, seen by City Press, instructing Xhakaza to immediately retract his statements – both in the media and on public radio – which implied that their client was connected to the murder or a "criminal syndicate" operating within the metro.
Dated 4 July 2025 and addressed directly to the mayor, the letter reads: “Your statements suggest, without evidence, that Mr Monyepao is part of a ‘criminal syndicate’ and potentially linked to the murder of Mr Mafole. These are serious and unfounded allegations that constitute defamation under South African law.”
The lawyers argued that Xhakaza’s remarks, particularly those aired on Radio 702 and published by Eyewitness News, were not only inaccurate but also prejudicial, given that no criminal charges had been laid against Monyepao. "No credible evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims. Mr Monyepao has suffered reputational [damage] and emotional harm as a result of your reckless statements," Nozake Attorneys stated.
The lawyers have demanded that Xhakaza:
- Immediately cease making any further public comments that implicate Monyepao.
- Issue a public retraction and clarification through the same platforms, including Eyewitness News, explicitly stating that no evidence supports any link between Monyepao and Mafole’s murder.
- Preserve all documentation and communication relating to Monyepao’s suspension and the revenue probe for possible future legal proceedings.
The lawyers gave Xhakaza seven days to respond, failing which they warned that legal proceedings, including a defamation lawsuit and claim for damages, may follow.
The billing scandal itself has dented confidence in the metro’s ability to manage its finances. As City Press previously reported, the city’s Finance MMC Jongizizwe Dlabathi confirmed that preliminary investigations pointed to deliberate account manipulation and deletions by city officials. “We discovered that there are about 1 660 accounts that were manipulated for rates clearance,” Dlabathi said. He also revealed that 1 438 accounts had been deleted, only to be reloaded with significantly reduced arrears, resulting in revenue losses of R273 million.
While Monyepao was suspended in April this year for alleged negligence relating to the shortfall – specifically for failing to detect the manipulation – his lawyers argued that no formal charges had been laid against him and that the matter remained under administrative review. They said Xhakaza’s public statements suggesting otherwise were not only misleading but also a violation of the presumption of innocence and procedural fairness. "As a senior official with a distinguished career, Monyepao has been unfairly tarnished by your public assertions, which have been widely disseminated through media outlets," Nozake Attorneys wrote.
According to internal reports, the manipulation of the accounts may have happened over several years and involved collusion between internal and external actors, among them consultants and property managers. An independent forensic investigation was underway, but sources said it was still in early stages. Whether it will result in criminal prosecutions remained to be seen.
Adv Caroline Mampura, who used to be Mafole's colleague at the office of the auditor-general, said: “Mpho was a dedicated auditor, we guess in the end that cost him his life. He did telling work at NSFAS and across the municipality. I guess it was too much for those that knew what he was working on. He made us laugh and was a beacon of sunshine in our work that is riddled with threats and assassination…unfortunately, sometimes law enforcement acts too late.”
Recalling her initial impressions of Mafole when they first met, Adv Caroline Mampuru of the auditor-general office, said she thought he was going to be someone who might come to work hungover after a wild weekend. “I was wrong. Mpho was dedicated to his work. He always addressed challenges calmly, never letting the pressure of deadlines or demands from superiors affect his composure.”
In Mafole’s case, the municipality has not yet formally responded to the letter from Monyepao's lawyers. The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department has yet to confirm any suspects or motives for the murder. However, the mayor’s remarks linking Mafole’s death to the billing investigation have intensified political tensions and legal threats within the municipality’s leadership, adding a layer of complexity to an already sensitive and high-stakes situation. The investigation into Mafole's murder and the R2 billion billing scandal continues, with the community anxiously awaiting answers and justice for the slain auditor.
Speaking at the funeral, Mafole’s friend, known as Chester, said he woold pray that his friend gets justice. “I don’t have a gun to fight for you, Mpho,” Chester said, “but I will fight through prayer. I believe in the justice you deserve and I have faith that it will come.”
Another friend, Brian Mthembu, a high school friend, spoke about their enduring connection, recalling fond memories from their teenage years and how Mafole had loved American rapper and actor Tupac Shakur. “The last time we spoke was just a week ago,” Mthembu said as he shared a voice note Mafole had left him. The message, which echoed through the service, featured Mpho’s calm voice reassuring his friend, “I’m well, just responding to your status. May the Lord do you well and protect you.”
The moment became even more emotional as family and friends heard Mpho’s voice. “Wake up, my brother, please,” one mourner cried out, unable to reconcile with the loss.
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