Malema: Joburg councillor Mphahlele was ‘assassinated’

The 39-year-old was shot dead during a housing protest in Marlboro on Sunday, allegedly by private security and officers from the Johannesburg metro police. 

Malema delivered a keynote address at Mphahlele's funeral at Baroka Stadium in Lebowakgomo outside Polokwane in Limpopo on Friday.

"Under democratic South Africa, we still have our own children being killed with live ammunition,” he said. 

"Mphahlele was not killed during the protest, he was actually assassinated because if you follow the story, they waited for him to be isolated. 

"When he moved away from his people to go and negotiate with the authorities, they shot him where they knew there will not be a witness.”

Malema said the MMC for the City of Johannesburg Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, who is also an EFF councillor in the coalition government, would have been fired if officers involved were not suspended. 

"We cannot have one of own killed when the MMC is our own and there is no action taken against those who have killed one of our own. As if he heard me, he would have lost his job already."

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