‘Mphalele was not killed, he was assassinated’ – Malema

Malema

Cape Town — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, believes that Moshe Mphalele’s death was an assassination, not just a killing.

Mphalele tragically lost his life while trying to mediate an altercation between Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department Officers (JMPD), security and Alexandra residents, when security opened fire and he died. JMPD officers were suspended following an autopsy report that showed Mphalele died by live ammunition.

Speaking during a memorial service for Mphalele, held in Limpopo on Friday, Malema said he believes Mphalele’s death was a deliberate and calculated assassination, SABC News reported.

“Under democratic South Africa, we still have our own children being killed with live ammunition, and Mphahlele was not killed during the protest. He was actually assassinated because if you follow the story, they waited for him to be isolated,” he said.

He also questioned why the people of Alexandra were allowed to have accommodation during Covid-19 and were later evicted once all Covid restrictions were lifted.

According to The Citizen, Malema bemoaned the fact that no arrests have been made, in a country where the democratic system supposedly works. He also wants the JMPD officers who were at the scene to be held liable for his death.

“Even if the JMPD did not shoot why did they allow the security to shoot while they were there? They have more authority than the private security,” Malema said.

Malema praised Mphalele for his work as a dedicated EFF councillor and said the EFF in Johannesburg will continue to work hard to ensure the homeless people of Alexandra can find shelter, in honour of Mphalele.

“Let the rightful owners get into the containers.  We are not calling for anything illegal anyone who qualifies to be in that container we are saying let them get in,” he said.

The Alexandra shellers were built during the Covid-19 pandemic times as temporary shelters for the dense population of the township and opposition parties have described the shelters as wasteful expenditure since they were never occupied during the pandemic.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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