Ugu mayor laid to rest amid suspicions
Phumlile Mthiyane was said to be a very committed and hard worker.
The family of the late mayor of Ugu District Municipality, Phumlile Mthiyane says it will not help but only hurt them even more to obtain post-mortem results.
This comes after a lot has been said about suspicions that the mayor was poisoned.
Family member Zakhele Shozi said his sister is gone and will never come back.
“It doesn’t help to speculate or get the results because it will not bring her back.”
Shozi said even though they had found her in a ‘weird situation’ where her tongue had changed colour, they cannot do anything now but believe it was God’s will (for her to die at this time).
“We cannot ask questions or keep asking who she was last seen with, or what happened before she died. Getting the results will only hurt us more.”
During a telephone conversation with Shozi, he asked to be phoned back a few hours later, so that he could tell the paper what they decided as a family.
The Herald contacted him numerous times but he was unavailable.
Mphilisi Shozi, who is also a family member, said the reason was that they did not suspect anything because she collapsed and died – thus no need to follow up on anything.
The funeral service was held at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre last Sunday, and she was laid to rest at her maiden home in Izingolweni.
This was held after a combined memorial service for her and the late municipal manager, Dr Elliot Ntombela who died of cancer, two days before her.
ANC member Mzwandile Mkhwanazi sent a tribute on behalf of friends and said he had never worked with such an honest and committed person.
“One of the things we never discussed was that one day we will die because some of the comrades take this democracy in a different way,” he said.
He said he knows that there are people who are rejoicing at the mayor’s death.
Mkhwanazi said Mthiyane had reached a stage where she was no longer happy because she had too much pressure and she said she was tired.
The funeral was attended by provincial leaders of the ANC, IFP, as well as other parties.
Among the well-known MECs were former premier Sihle Zikalala, former Ethekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, Peggy Nkonyeni, Mxolisi Kaunda, Cyril Xaba, Nontembeko Boyce and others.
Mkhuleko Hlengwa, national spokesperson of the IFP, also attended the funeral.
Mthiyane was described as a mother to all. She was said to be a mother to all her family members, her neighbours and her colleagues.
She leaves behind her five children, two girls, a set of twins, and a boy.
Mthiyane had served as mayor of Ugu for 14 months.
She was not the first district mayor to die while in office.
Tolomane Myayiza died three months after taking up the post of mayor of Ugu a few years ago.
Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, Zero Mqadi, said that as a result of this incident (combined with the death of the municipal manager two days prior) there were many challenges and fears in going about electing a new mayor.
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