PKTT takes over Emfuleni Municipal Official brutal murder case  

In a killing that has shaken the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality, a senior finance official was shot dead in brazen daylight on a busy Vanderbijlpark street – just metres from a police station. Now, the elite Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) has formally taken over the investigation, signalling that authorities believe the murder may be politically or corruption-related.

Martha Mani Rantsofu, 39, the acting city accountant, was gunned down outside a tyre fitment centre on Frikkie Meyer Boulevard at approximately 2:30 pm on March 30, 2026. Witnesses described a scene of terrifying precision: a lone gunman approached her from behind as she stood speaking on her mobile phone, drew a firearm, and opened fire without warning.

Even after Mani collapsed onto the pavement, the shooter continued firing, multiple witnesses said he deliberately aimed several rounds at her head. Then, without taking her handbag, phone, or any personal belongings, the killer fled on foot and disappeared into the afternoon traffic.

“This was not a robbery. This was an execution,” said a municipal employee who asked not to be named. “In broad daylight, with cars passing by, people watching. They wanted everyone to see.”

PKTT Takes Over from Local Police

Within 48 hours of the killing, the SAPS Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was formally assigned to lead the investigation. The unit, originally established to probe the murders of politicians and government officials in KwaZulu-Natal, has since expanded its mandate to include targeted assassinations linked to state capture, corruption, and municipal malfeasance.

A senior police source confirmed that local detectives requested the handover due to the “sensitive nature” of Mani’s position within Emfuleni’s finance department. “When a municipal accountant is executed in broad daylight, and there’s no robbery, no personal dispute – that raises red flags,” the source said. “The PKTT has the resources and experience for this kind of hit.”

The task team has already secured CCTV footage of the shooting, which shows the gunman walking calmly up to Mani, firing multiple rounds, and then walking away at a steady pace. As of mid-April 2026, no arrests have been made, but PKTT investigators say they are following “multiple positive leads.”

A Rising Career Cut Short in Seconds

Mani had only recently been promoted to acting city accountant after years of working as a senior clerk in the revenue collection department. Colleagues described her as meticulous, ambitious, and fiercely dedicated to cleaning up the municipality’s chaotic finances. She was also a mother to a teenage daughter writing her matric exams this year.

Her brother, Tsotang Rantsofu, broke down while recalling the moment he identified her body. “She had big dreams. She was studying for her honours degree. Now her child has no mother,” he said. “Someone sent that man to make sure she never saw the next sunrise.”

Why the PKTT? Possible Motives Under Investigation

The task team is pursuing several lines of inquiry that justify their involvement. One is a civil lawsuit in which Mani was the applicant against a property developer – a case scheduled to go to trial on April 9, just ten days after her murder. Another focuses on her role in revenue collection and whether she had flagged irregular payments, ghost employees, or inflated tenders.

Unconfirmed social media claims have suggested Mani was a whistleblower. Her family has neither confirmed nor denied this, but her brother issued a pointed plea: “She was silenced. Someone must tell us what they were trying to hide.”

A PKTT spokesperson declined to comment on specific motives but confirmed that “no angle is being ruled out, including political assassination, corruption-related retaliation, and witness intimidation.”

Brazen Daylight, No Fear of Police – Now an Elite Response

The killing occurred less than 200 metres from the Vanderbijlpark police station. Yet the attacker showed no hesitation and no fear of being caught on camera – which he was. The brazenness of the act is exactly why the PKTT has stepped in.

“Local police are capable, but this type of killing – professional, public, and targeted – requires a specialised unit,” said crime analyst Thabo Mkhize. “The PKTT has a track record of dismantling hit squads linked to municipal corruption. Their takeover is the best chance for justice.”

Fear Spreads Through Emfuleni Civic Centre

The brazen nature of the killing has terrified other municipal workers. Several employees have reportedly taken leave, and some have requested police protection. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “If they can kill her in broad daylight, next to a police station, none of us are safe. We are glad the PKTT is now handling it – but we are still afraid.”

Community members have also voiced outrage. “This is not a movie. This is Vanderbijlpark,” said resident Andile Dlamini. “When the government can’t protect its own workers, we are all in danger.