Lauren Isaacs and Thabiso Goba5 August 2024 | 11:30

City of Joburg describes slain EFF councillor as dedicated public servant

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor, Moshe Mphahlele Mphahlele was killed during a service delivery protest in Alexandra on Sunday.

City of Joburg describes slain EFF councillor as dedicated public servant

Moshe Mphahlele, who was the EFF’s deputy secretary in Johannesburg, and a councillor in the city. Picture: Facebook

CAPE TOWN - The City of Johannesburg has described slain Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor, Moshe Mphahlele, as a dedicated public servant whose life was tragically cut short.

Mphahlele was killed during a service delivery protest in Alexandra on Sunday.

It's understood he was shot while police dispersed a crowd of people protesting over the occupation of flats in Bramley.

The City says, the circumstances surrounding Mphahlele's death, allegedly involving members of the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), are currently under investigation.

The City of Joburg's Vusi Gumbi: "While details around Councillor Mphahlele's passing remain sketchy at this stage, it is believed that it allegedly involved JMPD officers. The speaker of council urges law enforcement officers to do their job thoroughly and to be allowed the space and time to do a proper investigation so that everything can be brought to light." 

Meanwhile, the red berets say they will not rest until those responsible for killing Mphahlele are found.

The EFF's Gauteng spokesperson - Dumisani Baleni - says Mphahlele lost his life while trying to mediate talks between the protestors and government officials. 

"During this peaceful engagement, Fighter Mphahlele was fatally shot with live ammunition by reckless and irresponsible security agencies. It is important to highlight that the security agencies had no justification for using live ammunition, as the situation was calm and non-violent. 

"Even more alarming is that this reckless shooting occurred in the presence of state security agencies who are supposed to know best how to handle such matters and resolve them peacefully."