By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Fraud-accused former City of Tshwane executive mayor, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, has died at the age of 52, following a short illness.
Speaker of Council of the City of Tshwane, Mncedi Ndzwanana, confirmed Makwarela’s death on Tuesday morning.
“It is a sad day for us because we have lost the important person, the former Speaker, the former mayor and the councillor of Tshwane, which is Dr Makwarela. He has lost his life this morning. It is a sad day for the city, it is a sad day for the office of the Speaker as well.”
Current mayor Cillier Brink paid tribute to Makwarela, saying he was saddened to hear of his passing.
“Whatever the difference we might have had, and the controversy of his tenure, I am saddened by his passing. I pray that God will comfort his family, and bring them peace.”
Family spokesperson, Reverend Abel Dube, said the former Congress of the People (COPE) councillor would be remembered for his hard work.
“He preached on Sunday at church. On Monday he was very well but later in the evening he was like not feeling well, and he was rushed to the hospital. He was there throughout the night, and he passed in the morning.
“He lived by example even to his congregation, a prayerful man – a man who loved God and a man who loved people. He shall be remembered for his honesty and his steadfastness.
The details surrounding his death are not yet clear.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Makwarela was appointed mayor in February 2023, replacing Randall Williams.
Williams resigned on 13 February following Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s adverse report regarding the financial affairs of the City of Tshwane, which included R10-billion in irregular expenditure.
However, Makwarela’s time in office was short-lived after revelations that he had been declared insolvent, making him ineligible for public office.
Makwarela’s troubles began when the DA wrote to City Manager Johan Mettler last week requesting him to establish whether Makwarela had obtained a rehabilitation order after being declared insolvent and sequestrated in the Gauteng High Court in 2016.
“Although insolvency is itself not a scandal, an unrehabilitated insolvent is barred by the Constitution from holding public office. Such a person is also not permitted to serve in any role that requires fiduciary responsibilities, such as trustee or a director of a company.”
He submitted a certificate proving his successful rehabilitation, but the court which was said to have issued the document disputed this.
A case of fraud was later opened against him by the city.
Makwarela appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court last week, where he failed to have the matter struck from the court roll.