Ekurhuleni's descent into a Mafia state: Whistle-blower murders echo Colombia's dark past

Ekurhuleni is believed to have transitioned from sporadic instances of crime and corruption towards a deep-rooted system, where criminality infiltrates politics and undermines governance, much like the pervasive influence of Colombian drug cartels.

This is according to the civil society organisations, which said Ekurhuleni has symptoms of notorious Colombia.  

Colombia is primarily associated with the concept of a “mafia state” due to its historical and ongoing dominance in cocaine production and trafficking, and the profound influence of powerful drug cartels on the country’s social, economic, and political structures.

In the 1980s and 1990s, powerful drug cartels such as the Medellin Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, and the Cali Cartel wielded immense power. They challenged the state through narcoterrorism, assassinations, bombings, and political corruption, effectively operating as a parallel power structure, though not a formal state, threatening Colombia’s sovereignty and rule of law.

The Forum for South Africa (FOSA) President, Tebogo Mashilompane, said Ekurhuleni is currently operating like the Colombian state, adding that the crime, including human trafficking, drugs, and extortion, is rampant in the area.  

“Then, on top of that, you are faced with a malfunctioning municipality because the criminals are controlling the municipality,’’ said Mashilompane, adding that Ekurhuleni has symptoms of notorious Colombia.

There have been multiple high-profile cases involving corruption and the murder of whistle-blowers in Ekurhuleni, leading to widespread outrage and calls for better protection measures in South Africa. 

In August 2021, an accountant at the Gauteng Department of Health, Babita Deokaran, was murdered after flagging suspicious transactions at Tembisa Hospital, which is based in Ekurhuleni. 

An adjudicator and evaluator in the Finance Department of the City of Ekurhuleni was shot and killed in a targeted attack near the Rand Airport in Germiston on December 8, 2023. He was working on audits, including the ones related to R4 billion toilet and waste contracts and a R1.8bn chemical toilets tender, at the time of his death.

The chief auditor at Ekurhuleni, Mpho Mafole, was murdered in July 2025, days after submitting a report on irregularities in a chemical toilet procurement tender. 

A former Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) official, Marius ‘Vlam’ van der Merwe,  was shot and killed outside his home in December 2025. Known as “Witness D” at the Madlanga Commission, he had testified about corruption within the EMPD and an alleged murder cover-up. 

In early 2010, Bedfordview, an affluent suburb that falls under Ekurhuleni, became a notable area associated with crime figures and underworld activities due to a combination of geographic, lifestyle, and infrastructure factors. 

The area became particularly known as a "gangster's paradise", primarily linked to the activities of Czech crime boss Radovan Krejcir, who is currently imprisoned at Kgosi Mampuru Prison on various charges including fraud, kidnapping, and attempted murder.

Other notable figures associated with the Bedfordview underworld included strip club boss Lolly Jackson (murdered), George Louca (a local conman and middleman), and various other individuals such as Veselin Laganin, Sam Issa, and Uwe Gemballa, many of whom were also murdered in crime-related incidents. 

The Public Interest SA echoed the sentiments, saying that while such comparisons must be used cautiously, elements associated with mafia-style criminality are undeniably present. “The infiltration of state systems by criminal networks, coupled with targeted attacks on those who expose wrongdoing, mirrors the characteristics of jurisdictions where the rule of law has been severely eroded,” said chairperson Tebogo Khaas. 

Defend Our Democracy (DOD) executive director, Naledi Kuali, said it is bad enough for corruption to be so deeply rooted, and it is now an attack on the rule of law and civil rights for this pervasive act of silencing witnesses to continue. 

Retired Interpol Ambassador and Security Strategist, Andy Mashaile, also said Ekurhuleni has become a mini-mafia state. Mashaile said that the fact that the municipality was infiltrated by criminals such as Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala, it became a hunting ground for the “Big Five”, an alleged key figure in a major Gauteng drug cartel. 

“We have also seen the story of the blue lights, which were used unlawfully and illegally by people who were not authorised or allowed to be driving in blue lights. Given the evidence that is before the Madlanga Commission, we can safely assume and say we think Ekurhuleni has been controlled by the mafia grouping,” he said.

Another crime expert, Willem Els, said crime, corruption, and the killings of whistle-blowers are reminiscent of a typical mafia state, where criminal groups target communities and government. He said this is a vehicle to corrupt the state-embedded actors from the lowest level to the senior level, and politicians as well. Els said this creates a challenge in order to enforce and enhance the rule of law. 

Meanwhile, police minister Firoz Cachalia, through his spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi, said he is confident that police will thoroughly investigate all the matters to ensure that justice is served. 

Questions were also sent to Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Phakamile Mbengashe, who did not respond to messages and calls. 

The article will be updated when the municipality responds.

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za