Ekurhuleni mayor targets media investigating Mpho Mafole’s death

In court on Tuesday, Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza attempted to gag local media outlet News24.

It's in connection with articles published about the murder last year of a senior City of Ekurhuleni auditor.

The City’s head of forensic audits, Mpho Mafole, was gunned down on the R23 highway in Kempton Park in July.

Since then, News24 has been investigating the killing and suggests it has uncovered evidence that leaves a question mark over the possible involvement of Xhakaza.

Mafole was killed just days after submitting a report on alleged irregularities in a R1.8 billion municipal chemical toilets tender.

ALSO READ: Probe launched into allegations Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza is linked to two high-profile killings

News 24's Pieter du Toit says the mayor is under enormous political pressure at the moment.

"His governing coalition has been reconstituted a couple of times over the last couple of months."

But not only that, Xhakaza has become the subject of trickle reporting by News24 relating to the murder of Mpho Mafole.

"He was assassinated after he identified numerous irregularities in this massive tender that was issued to a range of companies.

Du Toit says he finds the mayor's involvement interesting because of alleged ties between Xhakaza and some key role players.

"We started asking questions of the mayor. Why was he at the scene of a murder that has links to Mafole?"

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni auditor shot and killed

To listen to Du Toit in conversation with 702/CapeTalk's Mandy Wiener, use the audio player below: