Zenzele Benedict Sithole - a seasoned City of Johannesburg corruption investigator - took his last breaths slumped over his steering wheel after a lone gunman peppered his car with bullets.
The 55-year-old investigator was felled in what appears to be a carefully orchestrated hit that saw his killer lying in wait at an intersection in Booysens, Johannesburg, on Thursday as he made his way home.
Sithole, a former Hawks detective, was attached to the City's Group Forensics and Investigation Services (GFIS), tasked with probing fraud, corruption and maladministration.
News24 can reveal that Sithole had been probing a raft of high-profile, multimillion-rand graft cases and, according to impeccable sources, had feared his life was in danger.
Speaking through a family spokesperson, Sithole's wife said he had not been himself in the week leading up to his death, saying she now also feared for her own life.
She added he was guarded about his movements and insisted on escorting her to work.
Exclusively obtained CCTV footage of the attack shows the final moments of his life, with a shadowy figure walking up to Sithole's red Citi Golf before unleashing a volley of bullets into the car.
As the vehicle lurches forward, with Sithole seemingly incapacitated, the man flees on foot.
'Fearless'
Two sources with knowledge of Sithole's work, who spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the press, said he carried files on a range of corruption investigations that would have drawn in prominent politicians and critical actors in the City of Johannesburg's leadership.
"Sithole has dealt with the most high-profile cases, which people fear to take up," added one source, saying he was, in the days before his murder, handed a new matter to probe.
At the time of his death, several GFIS dockets were found in his car.
Last moments
While the motive for Sithole's murder is unknown, CCTV footage has revealed grainy, pixelated details of his last moments.
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The footage, from a business at the intersection of Booysen and John roads, shows Sithole's car approaching an intersection and stopping as traffic calmed.
Sithole's car can then be seen freewheeling down the road until it comes to a stop against a wall.
The site where COJ fraud investigator Zenzele Benedict Sithole's car drew to a halt after he was shot several times. (Jeff Wicks/News24)
It is understood Sithole was shot as many as five times. He sustained close-range, small-calibre gunshot wounds to his head and lower body. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene.
Widowed
Sithole was married in April, just three months before his murder, and leaves behind his five children.
His wife added that Sithole was not sleeping in the week before his murder and seemed to be on edge constantly.
The spokesperson said:
He was really acting strange this week. When she asked him what was wrong or if something was troubling him, he would just say 'everything is fine'.
"He was very restless and not sleeping at all at night," the spokesperson, who also wished to remain unnamed for fear of their life said.
They added, according to his wife, Sithole insisted on taking her to and from work and warned her against moving around frequently.
Sithole had allegedly been given a new case to work on in recent months, which he was eager to discuss with his GFIS colleagues as it seemed to worry him. However, distractions prevented him from divulging any information.
City of graft
GFIS is the City's internal anti-corruption arm tasked with investigating serious crimes within municipal structures.
It also works to conceptualise and implement anti-fraud and corruption strategies for the City.
The entity within which Sithole worked has been fraught with problems and its investigators have been placed under severe pressure owing to political instability, both in the City and its own leadership.
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News24 reported last year GFIS' powers and independence had been stripped and handed to the City manager.
Last year, the ANC/EFF/PA coalition in the City adopted the report after which the DA approached the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to reverse the decision.
A month later, the City
launched an investigation into GFIS and allegations of unlawful conduct within the entity and by councillors.
According to a report tabled at a closed-door meeting of council, the reason for the probe was because, "investigations conducted by the GFIS were neither compliant with the local government disciplinary regulations for senior managers, nor compliant with the approved GFIS delegations of authority".
Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza told News24 they were investigating a case of murder and no arrests had yet been made.
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