Bobby Motaung, the Kaizer Chiefs Football Manager who once scored an own goal when he told Chiefs fans to get stuffed because the club was a family business, may have a case to answer.
He was named during a press conference in which Lt-General Daphney Manamela made several damning allegations against the likes of Bheki Cele and Fannie Masemola.Among others, the suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner alleges that Motaung was involved in the Mbombela Stadium corruption scandal and the assassination of Jimmy Mohlala, former Speaker of the Mbombela Municipality.
The question is, ‘Sixteen years later, will the family of the murdered whistleblower finally see justice for him? Are the wheels of justice finally turning at a reasonable pace instead of just grinding?
The Mbombela Stadium Scandal Time line:
April 2006 – Bobby Motaung’s company Lefika wins the stadium design tender using a FRAUDULENT tax clearance certificate.
Late 2008 – Council Speaker Jimmy Mohlala begins legal steps to cancel the contract & calls for criminal charges against Motaung.
5 Jan 2009 – ONE DAY before Mohlala is due to lay charges, he is ASSASSINATED outside his home in front of his son. No one has ever been convicted.
15 Aug 2012 – Hawks arrest Motaung & co-accused for fraud worth R92 million. Released on bail.
July 2016 – ALL charges dropped. Case struck off the roll. Witnesses allegedly intimidated.
2024 – Mpumalanga launches a unit to investigate political killings. Mohlala’s case is listed. Nothing came of it so far2026 : Suspended Mpumalanga commission alleges that Bobby paid R5 million to the National commission Fanie Masemola to get the corruption case dropped.
