Mabopane residents shut down M21 road, demand justice for slain councillor
"What is happening here is a mess. We have lost a lot of councillors and community members in the same way. Motaung was our preferred candidate and we do not want the incoming councillor, we are not happy."
Mabopane residents took to the streets on Monday, to demand justice for slain ward 22 councillor Tshepo Motaung, who was shot and killed on Friday.
According to unconfirmed reports, Motaung was shot several times by unknown hitmen in what residents believed to be a politically motivated killing because of the recent controversial ANC councillor selection process for the upcoming local government elections.
Motaung was the current ANC ward councillor and was standing for re-election.
The angry residents barricaded M21 road with stones and burning tyres demanding that Motaung’s killers be brought to book.
A resident in the area, Thato Noko, said the “killings of preferred councillor and candidates has been an ongoing problem in the township”.
“What is happening here is a mess, we have lost a lot of councillors and community members in the same way. Motaung was our preferred candidate and we do not want the incoming councillor. We are not happy.
“Councillors in the MAWIGA zone (Mabopane, Winterveld and Ga-Rankuwa) are dying the same way Motaung just died. It’s been a long-standing issue,” Noko said.
“People are planning to disrupt the elections. If they can shut down this area like this then it will be simple for them to disrupt the elections.”
Noko said Motaung brought a lot of changes in the township.
“That is why we wanted him to be re-elected.
“Bra Tshepo (Motaung) was a perfect councillor. He gave us jobs and we have seen a lot of improvements since he became a councillor. He never promised things that he could not deliver. We would have loved it if he came back.
“We are going to suffer now that he is gone. We fear that his death will leave us destitute and we will not get the same opportunities he gave us.”
Tshwane mayor Randal Williams condemned the killing of Motaung, calling it a criminal and barbaric act.
“I want to condemn it in the strongest terms. As we enter the final weeks of political campaigning before the local government elections on November 1, 2021, I want to call for peace and calm.
“There are numerous and different political parties campaigning for the upcoming local government elections and we simply cannot allow violence to undermine and threaten this democratic process.
“I call on all parties, candidates, activists, and anyone that will be active in the political space to please engage peacefully. I want to offer my deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of councillor Tshepo Motaung. May his soul rest in peace.”
ANC greater Tshwane regional secretary Eugene Modise said the party would only comment after visiting the family.
Police had to comment at the time of going to print.
**The views expressed in this report were expressed by the relevant interviewees and the parties they represent, and are not held by this publication.
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