Randfontein resident, community activist and former West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) spokesperson Dennis Refentse Mangope was shot and killed in Mohlakeng last Friday night, November 18.
At the time of his death, Mangope was the Liaison Officer for the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Ntombi Mekgwe’s office.
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The shooting, believed to be execution style, occurred on Nokwe Street in Mohlakeng shortly after 20:30.
News of his death was confirmed by both the Randfontein Police spokesperson Sergeant Carmen Hendricks and the GPL’s Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security.
“Randfontein Visible Policing member received a complaint of a shooting in Nokwe Street and upon his arrival on scene found a man lying next to his vehicle face down.
“The victim had a gun shot wound on his upper body. The emergency medical services were called and the victim was declared dead by the paramedic. The victim was later identified. A murder case has been opened and the case is under investigation,” said Sergeant Hendricks.
The Herald spoke to family spokesperson Mzi Khumalo who said Mangope is believed to have been shot twice, with the second bullet, causing the fatal injuries.
“The deceased was travelling alone at the time of the incident and had parked his car on Nokwe Street. It appears that he was shot first while inside his car. He then tried getting out of his car and that’s when it looks like he was shot for the second time, thus succumbing to his injuries,” said Khumalo.
He added that shortly after this, community members alerted his family, who then rushed to the scene and watched his motionless body on the streets while waiting for government services to arrive.
“He was really close to his children so one can only imagine what they are going through, including his wife. We have truly lost a legend and news of his passing is difficult for them and all of us as the African National Congress (ANC) as well as the Legislature,” said Khumalo.
Mangope, 50, leaves behind his two daughters and his wife and will be buried on November 26 at the Heroes Square Cemetery in Greenhills.
Prior to this, Mangope was appointed as a Ward Councillor in Mohlakeng and later moved on to being appointed as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of the Infrastructure Department in the defunct Randfontein Local Municipality.
He then moved on to being appointed as a Chief Whip of the WRDM and later served as the spokesperson in that institution as well.
