The assassination of Martha Mani Rantsofu, a 40-year-old finance clerk at the Emfuleni Local Municipality, has shocked the council sparking intense speculation over whether the motive behind her murder by a hitman was work-related or personal. The case has now been handed over to the specialised Gauteng Political Killing Task Team, underscoring the gravity and potential political implications of the incident.
Rantsofu, a mother of one whose daughter is currently in matric, was gunned down on 30 March at a vehicle fitment centre in Vanderbijlpark. A chilling video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, depicts a lone shooter approaching her from behind and firing multiple shots into her head before fleeing the scene. The sheer brazenness of the attack has left colleagues and the community reeling.
A senior municipal employee, who spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity, revealed the pervasive uncertainty surrounding Rantsofu’s death. “We can’t say her death was work-related or not. We don’t know if she was killed because of her work. However, her murder has shocked us because of the office she was attached to,” the source stated. Rantsofu’s duties as a finance clerk included managing the debt rehabilitation programme and overseeing debt write-offs, placing her in direct contact with the community.
“She dealt directly with the community. We don’t know what could have led to her killing. For now, we don’t know if it is linked to her work or personal matters. It happened outside the municipality. Her family is devastated and demanding answers,” the insider added, highlighting the profound impact on her loved ones.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the transfer of the case to the Political Killing Task Team. “The police are investigating a murder case. According to information received, the woman was at a local tyre shop waiting for her punctured tyre to be fixed when an unknown man suddenly emerged and fired several shots at her before fleeing the scene. The victim, identified as an employee of Emfuleni Local Municipality, was declared dead at the scene,” Nevhuhulwi detailed.
However, Emfuleni Municipality officials have moved to dismiss speculation linking Rantsofu’s death to her work, emphasising her junior position within the finance department. Municipal spokesperson Mkahosonke Sangweni clarified Rantsofu’s role, stating: “She was a junior administrator in finance, not a senior employee or manager.”
Sangweni expressed frustration at what he perceived as unethical speculation, particularly from the media.
It’s very unethical to speculate about people’s deaths. We have no clue if there is a link to her work and can only wait for the police’s final report.
He further added a pointed critique of News24:
It’s worrying that the media wants to make a story about this while there are many other deaths in society and the municipality. This makes us believe News24 is targeting Emfuleni for political agendas. No further comment on this matter except that the media can contact the family for any other information.
Sangweni reiterated that the motive for the shooting remains under police investigation, urging patience until official findings are released. Rantsofu was laid to rest on Saturday, with her funeral attended by colleagues and local politicians affiliated with the municipality, a testament to her standing within her community and workplace.
The involvement of the Gauteng Political Killing Task Team suggests that authorities are taking the possibility of a politically motivated assassination seriously, despite the municipality’s attempts to downplay work-related links. This incident casts a chilling shadow over local governance, raising concerns about the safety of public servants and the potential for violence in the pursuit of political or financial agendas. As the investigation unfolds, the community and Rantsofu’s grieving family await answers to the questions surrounding her untimely and brutal death.
