Gauteng police have assigned the high-profile murder of a municipal finance employee to the Political Killings Task Team after CCTV footage of the shooting spread widely on social media.
Image: Social Media
Gauteng police have confirmed that the murder case of an Emfuleni Local Municipality finance official, whose killing was captured on CCTV and widely shared on social media, has been handed to the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Martha Mani, 40, an employee of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, was shot dead in a calculated daylight attack in Vanderbijlpark on March 30.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed to IOL News that the case is now under investigation by the Gauteng PKTT.
“The matter will indeed be investigated by (the) Gauteng PKTT,” she said on Monday.
According to police, Mani was waiting at a tyre fitment centre for a puncture to be repaired when an unknown man approached her and opened fire.
“According to information received, the woman was at a local tyre shop waiting for her tyre puncture to be fixed when an unknown man suddenly emerged from nowhere and fired several shots at her before fleeing the scene.”
“The victim, identified as an employee of Emfuleni local municipality, was declared dead at the scene,” she said.
Mani was declared dead at the scene.
Police have opened a murder case, and the motive remains under investigation.
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster also confirmed that the PKTT had taken over the case following the circulation of the shooting video on social media.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the cluster described the killing as a targeted hit.
“The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team is investigating the ‘hit’ of Martha Mani, a municipal employee in the finance department of Emfuleni Local Municipality, Vanderbijlpark,” the post read.
“She was gunned down in the municipal parking area (her workplace).”
Video footage of the incident shows Mani standing outside and speaking on her mobile phone when a man approaches from behind and fires multiple shots at close range. She collapses instantly, while the gunman flees to a waiting vehicle, which speeds away.
There was no attempt to rob her and no apparent confrontation, suggesting the attack was deliberate.
The brazen nature of the killing - carried out in public and at close range - has heightened concern among residents, particularly over the safety of municipal employees.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL News