Fraud-accused former Tshwane mayor Murunwa Makwarela has died
Former Tshwane mayor Murunwa Makwarela. (Zintle Mahlati/News24)
Former Tshwane mayor Murunwa Makwarela has died.
Tshwane council Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana confirmed Makwarela's death on Tuesday morning.
"It is a sad day for us because we have lost an important person. The former speaker, the former mayor and councillor of Tshwane, Dr Makwarela," Ndzwanana said.
"He lost his life this morning. It is a sad day for the City; it is a sad day for the office of the speaker. I would like to say to the family and the residents of Tshwane, condolences."
READ | Former Tshwane mayor fails to have fraud case struck from court roll
The family's spokesperson, Reverend Abel Dube, said Makwarela died at Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp following a short, undisclosed illness.
"He leaves behind his wife and two daughters. He will be remembered for his hard work. We, as the family, request privacy as it's still early days," Dube said.
Makwarela's death comes just a week after he appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on charges of fraud relating to his insolvency status.
News24 reported that he failed to have his fraud case struck from the court roll, following an objection for a postponement.
In arguing against the postponement, Makwarela's attorney placed the former Tshwane mayor's financial position on record.
The court heard that Makwarela has lost his house and his vehicles.
He was living on handouts and could not find a job or business associates because the fraud matter had been widely reported, his attorney said.
Fake rehabilitation certificate
Makwarela, a Cope councillor, became the Tshwane mayor in February 2023 following the resignation of Randall Williams.
He was nominated by the ANC and EFF, and defeated DA candidate Cilliers Brink for the mayoral chain.
Shortly after his election, it was revealed that Makwarela had been declared insolvent in 2016.
News24 reported that the law prohibits a person who has been declared insolvent from holding public office.
READ | Murunwa Makwarela pleads not guilty to fraud charges, granted R10 000 bail
In an attempt to refute the information about his insolvency, Makwarela presented a rehabilitation certificate purportedly from the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
The court, however, disputed that it had issued the certificate.
He resigned an hour after the registrar's letter was made public but insisted that his resignation was not an admission of guilt, News24 reported at the time.
This led to a case being opened against Makwarela by the City of Tshwane.
He was charged with two counts of fraud related to the allegedly fake rehabilitation court certificate and the time he spent as a councillor and Speaker in Tshwane, earning more than R1.4 million, without disclosing his insolvency.
