05/08/2022
*MEDIA AND PUBLIC STATEMENT*
_MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Jomo Sibiya and all categories of staff are shocked following the brutal murder of a colleague during the cause of duty._
05 August 2022
*Archie Gumede Conference Centre* : Today, another family in South Africa is experiencing the loss of a son, a brother, a father and an uncle.
We kindly invite external stakeholders and all the people of KwaZulu-Natal to join us as we convey our deepest condolences to the family of our departed colleague Mr Mfanufikile Cele affectionately known as “Snow”.
“Snow” was brutally murdered yesterday in an attempted car hijacking in KwaMashu, Ntuzuma Township. He was part of a team tasked with the responsibility of updating victims of floods about progress around their relocation from community halls.
What saddens us most is that his departure is a depletion of a dedicated staff that has been ensuring speed and efficiency towards the rollout of human settlements for the victims of devastating floods we experienced in April.
Critically, we remain concerned about the emotional trauma that our staff is experiencing as a result of harassments and bullying by rogue elements in various parts of the province, especially in eThekwini.
We therefore wish to inform the people of this province that at this stage we are consulting with relevant authorities with the view of withdrawing our staff who are involved in the rollout of Temporary Residential Units and construction of houses until their safety is guaranteed.
There is an increasing number of different categories of staff who feel unsafe as they carry out their duties. It is clear to us now that unless something drastic is done, our staff who are involved in recovery efforts will continue to endure harassments from criminals who are also demanding tenders.
Our beloved colleague “Snow” joined the KZN Human Settlements Department in 2017 as an Administrative Officer in the Anti-Land Invasion Unit. His day to day work entailed the prevention of invasion of state land earmarked for housing development.
Aged 57, he worked very closely with eThekwini Municipality Security Management and he was from Chesterville Township.
The words that best describe the life and times of Snowy are written in the book.
2 Timothy Chapter
4 Verse. 7 and read as follows:
".....I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith...."
```Short Profile of Mr Mfanufikile Cele```
His dedication to the cause of the liberation struggle saw him going into exile to join and swell the ranks of the glorious people’s army uMkhonto weSizwe as a Combatant.
On his return to South Africa in 1990 he continued to serve the ANC in various positions in the then Southern Natal Region and was instrumental in the setting up of the People’s Self-Defense Units to defend communities in and around Durban during the low intensity war and internecine violence prior to the advent of democratic rule in 1994.
He served in the Provincial Executive Committee of the MKMVA in KwaZulu-Natal . He also served as a eThekwini Municipality Councillor until the 2016 municipal elections.
Ends
*Issued by the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Jomo Sibiya*
Enquiries
Ndabezinhle Sibiya
082 375 4742
Mbulelo Baloyi
0798713915/0833200274
