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Mpumalanga has been notorious as an epicentre of assassinations especially against corruption-busting officials and politicians.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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Former Mpumalanga director-general Makhukhu Mampuru lost his job after he allegedly fumbled due to fear of being assassinated following attacks on his subordinates.

Mampuru has, however, declined to explain his quiet and immediate exit from his post in March this year.

The People’s Eye has been reliably informed that Mampuru peeved Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane when he arrived at an official’s funeral being protected by bodyguards without the premier’s knowledge of any risk against his life.

The deputy director, Andrew Nkosi, had been fatally shot early this year but the reasons are still unknown. What is known is that Nkosi was the second official working in the office of the Premier to be attacked.

Before Nkosi’s shooting, Mabidi Izzy Machaba, a chief director in the Integrity Management Unit, which investigates corruption in the provincial government and municipalities, was shot multiple times, and had to hospitalised late last year.

Mampuru’s bodyguards’ stunt, according to a source in the provincial government, was the last straw that broke the camel’s back as his relationship with Mtshweni-Tsipane had already deteriorated.

He was allegedly no longer supporting the premier and was conspicuous by his absence in all functions Mtshweni-Tsipane attended.

“He did not follow procedures to procure the bodyguards and he tried to formalise the process later through the supply chain management unit after he had already hired them, and having them paid by government,” a source said.

“He had bodyguards for two to three months before he left his position, and they were paid by the state. The premier asked how come he could have bodyguards without her knowledge and a security risk assessment having been done,” he added.

Mampuru took leave when ANC convened a provincial lekgotla in February. “The premier gave him a choice to resign voluntarily or face charges. The DG decided to resign immediately. The bodyguards issue put more fuel to the fire that was already burning,” the source said.

Mampuru declined to comment. “I better not comment. Let me see what you write,” he said.

Mpumalanga government spokesperson, George Mthethwa, also did not respond to written questions. It is not clear if Mtshweni-Tsipane will pursue Mampuru to recoup the amount of money that he has already spent, which can be classified as unauthorised and fruitless expenditure.

Another source said that the shooting incidents indicated that there was enmity among officials in the Office of the Premier. Mpumalanga has been notorious as an epicentre of assassinations especially against corruption-busting officials and politicians.

Two weeks ago, two officials were ambushed by criminals at a bed & breakfast establishment in Emalahleni and had their car keys confiscated.

“We are asking ourselves a lot of questions,” the source said. “The funny part is how could common criminals know that our officials were there? There’s an on-going war among the officials,” said the source.

MACHABA WAS PROBING CORRUPTION

A source said that Machaba was tailed as he drove to attend an imbizo in Secunda.

“He was followed from Mbombela to Secunda. After the imbizo, he was followed to Pretoria. Along the way his car was stopped, and four gunmen came out of their car, and without wasting time, they shot him 29 times. He was left to die along the road,” the source said.

Machaba was investigating the multi-million-rand Premier’s Youth Fund for possible corruption and bogus qualifications when he was shot.

Machaba was in a coma for about four months in hospital. No one has been arrested yet.

“After the incident, the gunmen took his laptop and all documents in his car, which proves this was work-related. Only 29 spent cartridges were found in his car,” said the source.