IT was a dark and tragic day for members of the Green Army as they watched their leader shot dead while on duty.
Team leader, Mduduzi Mbense (38), a member of the Green Army for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment in Gauteng, was shot dead on Friday morning, 16 February.
The Green Army is a public programme that deals with waste management and greening by removing illegal dumping and picking up litter in communities, main roads and open spaces.
According to the spokesman for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment in Gauteng, Themba Gadebe, Mduduzi was killed at Jabulani Hostel in Joburg, where he worked and lived.
He was leading his Green Army team at the time.
While details of the fatal shooting are still sketchy, Mbali Hlophe of the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has expressed shock at the killing.
ALSO READ: Poisoned biscuit victim to be laid to rest
“It's still unclear why he was brutally shot in front of his colleagues when all he wanted to do was lead the team in a clean-up operation at the hostel,” she said.
Hlophe described Mduduzi as a dedicated person who was committed to environmental sustainability ekasi.
She urged the police to leave no stone unturned in apprehending the perpetrator of this heinous crime.
“We're deeply saddened by this untimely loss. I'd like to express my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. May you all find strength and comfort during this difficult time,” she said, confirming that they will offer psychosocial support to Mduduzi’s colleagues.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi Police confirmed that the motive behind the shooting is still unknown and that they are investigating a case of murder.
According to the quarterly crime statistics, which refer to crimes that occurred between 01 October 2023 and 31 December 2023, at least 7 710 people were murdered.
This is an increase of 2.1%, which means that 155 more people were murdered than in the same period, Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Friday when reporting on the current crime situation.
He said most of the 30 wards where most of the murders were reported were the Western Cape, KZN, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
So far, more resources have been allocated to the wards with the most reported murders.
