Former City of Tshwane mayor Dr Murunwa Makwarela has died. Image: X/@City Tshwane.
Family shocked at Murunwa Makwarela’s death: ‘He was a very healthy man’
The City of Tshwane has confirmed the death of Dr Murunwa Makwarela, a former executive mayor and speaker of the capital city.
Former City of Tshwane mayor Dr Murunwa Makwarela has died. Image: X/@City Tshwane.
The former executive mayor and speaker in the City of Tshwane, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, has died.
Tshwane Speaker of Council Mncedi Ndzwanana confirmed the news on Tuesday morning, in a video statement on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Shortly thereafter, in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, family friend Adel Dube also confirmed that Makwarela had passed away on Tuesday morning in hospital after a short illness.
Asked by anchor Iman Rappetti if there had been any health concerns preceding the death, Dube said Makwarela was a very health man.
“On Saturday morning, he wasn’t feeling very well. He went to the doctor, he came back to the house. And then yesterday [Monday, 22 April] early evening, he was at the doctor’s rooms. The doctor decided to take him to hospital for X-rays,” said Dube.
He later died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, said the family friend.
CONTROVERSY AROUND MURUNWA MAKWARELA
Makwarela was the first citizen in the metro municipality following the resignation of the Democratic Alliance‘s (DA) Randall Williams in February 2023.
Shortly after his election as mayor, it was revealed that Makwarela has previously been sequestrated. The 52-year-old claimed he had been rehabilitated and provided proof, which was later deemed to be false.
In March 2023, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria confirmed that the rehabilitation certificate Makwarela had issued to the City Manager Johann Metler was a fake.
Makwarela was then disqualified as a councillor after it was learnt that he had been declared insolvent. As per the law, anyone who has been declared insolvent cannot run for office.
CONDOLENCES FROM THE CURRENT MAYOR
Following his death, City of Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink expressed his sadness and also sent condolences to Makwarela’s loved ones.
“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,” Brink said.
