FORMER Tshwane mayor Dr Murunwa Makwarela has died.
The 52-year-old died in the early hours of Tuesday, 23 April, but the cause of death is unknown at this stage.
Reacting to the news, Tshwane speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana said it's a sad day for the city and the office of the speaker.
“Because we have lost an important person, who is the former mayor and my predecessor. I took over from him and will continue the work he has done,” he said.
He sent his condolences to the Makwarela family and residents of Tshwane.
“The only thing we can do is celebrate his life and forget about the negative energy that came around him while he was still alive,” he said.
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink said he is saddened by the news of Makwarela's passing.
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At the time of his death, the former Cope member was a politician, genetic engineer and an academic.
He came into the spotlight when he was elected Tshwane speaker of council and was named mayor, succeeding Randall Williams in 2023.
But his mayorship only lasted two weeks after it was revealed that he had been found insolvent in 2016.
He was dismissed by the city manager on 7 March 2023, but was reinstated after two days after he submitted a fraudulent rehabilitation certificate to regain his position.
He resigned on 10 March 2023 and a case of fraud was opened against him, which has been ongoing in the Pretoria Commercial Specialised Crime Court at the time of his death.
Family spokesman Reverend Dr Abel Dube confirmed that Dr Makwarela passed on at Leratong Hospital.
According to Dube, he died of a short illness on Tuesday morning.
“He leaves behind his wife and two daughters," Dr Dube said.
