ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 2 • 15-28 JAN 2010
The MEC for Community Safety in Mpumalanga province has asked the Provincial Commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Thulani Ntobela, to set up an investigation into the alleged hit-list that contains the names of people who are blowing the whistle against corruption.
The allegations of a hit list first surfaced immediately after the murder of Mbombela Local Municipality Speaker, Jimmy Mohlala who was shot in cold blood in front of his son at his house in Kanyamazane in 2009, however, no hit-list was ever made public.
Earlier this month when another high profile Mpumalanga resident, Sammy Mpatlanyane was executed, almost in the same manner, rumours of the hit list once more surfaced.
Mohlala was killed just days before he testified against the former municipal manager of Mbombela Local Municipality, Jacob Dladla. The motive for the murder of Mpatlanyane is still unknown.
Recently, a journalist who writes for a national newspaper wrote in articles that a hit-list exists and that it contains the names of at least two Mpumalanga journalists. He also wrote that both Mohlala and Mpatlanyane were on the same hit list. The story even became a subject of discussion on a national radio talk show, where the same journalist headlined.
Ziwaphi’s attempt to get the journalist proved fruitless and he also did not return messages left on his cell-phone.
“The information will assist the police during the investigation to find the root of these allegations,” Manana was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Department.
“We are unaware of the hit list, and as long as people are not coming out with information to the police, this matter will remain rumours until an official investigation is concluded” reads the statement.
Manana also appealed to the affected families to remain calm until the investigations have been finalized and called on people who have information on the hit list to assist the police by supplying the information to the police.
Ziwaphi has also learnt that following the murder of Mbombela Municipality Speaker, Jimmy Mohlala in January 2009 there are people who have been deliberately spreading wrong information to divert police investigations in this murder.
To date the police have not been able to apprehend his killers in spite of a R100 000 reward that the police have put forward for information that may lead to the arrest of Mohlala’s assailants.
The spokesperson for the Provincial Commissioner, Sibongile Nkosi confirmed that the MEC has ordered an investigation into the allegations of a hit list, but that they do not have the hit list in their possession.
“The provincial commissioner has no hit-list, except what we read in the media. We, however view the allegations of the existence of a hit-list in a very serious light,” she said.
She declined to comment if the police will be interviewing the journalist who first published the information.
Mpumalanga journalists have recently been in the spot light on allegations that some of them are in the payroll of Mpumalanga politicians to prevent them from writing damaging articles against leading provincial politicians.
In one media article there were allegations that one of the journalists is driving a vehicle that was bought for him by a politician.
Meanwhile, the journalist who first wrote the story of a hit-list in a the national newspaper is reportedly also not accessible to the police and the Mpumalanga Community Safety Department seems cautious and it seems unlikely that the police would invoke Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act to force him to disclose the information following the furore over etv’s decision to flight the story of two hooligans who were threatening to cause havoc during the FIFA 2010 World cup to be held in the country.
“The intention of the investigation is to afford those who have knowledge of the alleged hit list an opportunity to come forward. We don’t want to run after the media like it was the case with the etv story,” said Mabuza.
MANANA orders probe into the “hit list”