Murder of Ekhurhuleni audit chief tragic for the profession, says Institute

702's John Perlman talks to Chris de Beer, CEO of the Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners, about the risks faced in this profession.

A senior auditor for the City of Ekurhuleni was shot and killed on Monday, drawing attention again to the risks associated with investigating corruption in South Africa.

Mpho Mafole, group divisional head for Corporate and Forensic Audits, was gunned down on the R23 highway in Kempton Park.

He'd been appointed to the post just three months ago.

RELATED: City of Ekurhuleni auditor shot and killed

While police investigating the murder say the motive is unknown at this stage, there is of course speculation that it was linked to Mafole's corruption-busting work.

The forensic auditor and his team were looking into an electricity billing scandal that cost the City of Ekurhuleni more than R2 billion.

The City is now calling for the Hawks to take over the case from the SAPS.

While it's important to establish the facts before coming to any conclusions in this case, says the ICFP's Chris de Beer, the Institute has been engaging with government and with the SAPS about ways to improve protection for forensic auditors.

"By nature of our training we do a risk assessment before we do engagements of this nature.... but this type of violent risk does seem increased in the public sector, if we look at procurement tender investigations."

Chris de Beer, CEO - Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners

"Mafole was on the highest level of professionalism with the highest qualification and we are saddened that he was tragically killed."

Chris de Beer, CEO - Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners

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