MEC Mbali Hlophe has paid her respects to the family of slain Green Army team leader, Mduduzi Mbense (38).
Mduduzi was fatally shot while on duty at Jabulani Hostel last week Friday.
The Gauteng Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment MEC and izinduna from Jabulani hostel visited the family of the slain Mduduzi on Wednesday, 21 February, to convey their condolences.
Hlophe said since Mdu was one of their own, she saw it fit to visit the family.
“Mdu was a member of our Green Army which consists of people who help us clean and plough in the community because we know that hunger is everywhere, and people are not working.
"The way he departed has shocked us. We're also here to find out how we can best assist the family,” she said.
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Hlophe said now that Mdu is gone, they'll have a word with the family in terms of having his replacement and will be guided by induna and the ward councilor.
Hostel induna Sahluko Dladla said Mdu was like a brother, and he felt so much pain when he learnt of his sudden death.
”When I heard what had happened, I didn’t believe it. I thought maybe they had mistaken him for someone else. Mdu was a quiet person, forever smiling,” induna said.
He shared that Mdu was allegedly murdered over a goat.
“He was allegedly shot and we don’t know what happened but he was shot where there are small farmers and he was also a member of those farmers. From the information that we received, the conspiracy is that he was called by someone who pretended to want to buy a goat, however, when he got to the agreed meeting point, he was shot,” Dladla said.
He said when they were called to the scene, they found Mdu’s dead body lying there.
The memorial service for Mduduzi Mbense is scheduled to take place at Jabulani Hostel on Wednesday afternoon, 22 February, followed by a funeral in KZN.
