Kwa-Thema- Tshepo Mwelase (44) an activist and active member of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), was shot and killed on June 15.
Mwelase was found at the corner of Kgaswane and Monyane streets in Kwa-Thema.
His aunt Matebogo Tagane said she received a call from relatives who reside in the Masimini area to inform them about Mwelase’s death.
“They instructed me to rush to Kgaswane Street, saying Mwelase had been hurt. I knew something terrible had happened.
“While preparing to leave the house, I received another call stating the police were looking for his relatives. I immediately knew that Mwelase was dead.
“When we arrived on the scene, he had already been declared dead. They already covered his body.
“I asked to see his body. He was still warm, but I had to feel him for closure’s sake. He was gone, shot in the head,” said Tagane.
Tagane expressed sadness and gratitude to the community for all the kind words they offered to the family during their difficult time.
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She further added the community has offered to take care of Mwelase’s burial.
“This proves that Mwelase played an impactful role in people’s lives.
“He was an individual who always went the extra mile to make sure that he assisted people in an impactful way.
“We are saddened by his passing, but he lived his life to the fullest and has brought a lot of change into our community,” added Tagane.
PAC member Jerry Thabethe (41) said Mwelase was humble and polite, living his life for the community and devoted to people’s struggles.
He added the party was devastated by Mwelase’s death. They lost a person of character and a person who was always on the ground advocating for change and improvement of life.
Thabethe added he recruited Mwelase to be an activist and affiliated him with politics.
“I saw potential in him. He was a resilient individual who chanelled the political system to favour black people living in the township.
“Mwelase fought for our community in different ways. He would regularly call community meetings to listen to the community’s grievances and fight against all the problems they faced.
“He fought for the Ext 4 community to have their local dumping site closed and barricaded to ensure the odour does not affect the people living near the area. He ensured the area was enclosed to protect people, especially the children, from playing with or reusing harmful objects.
“Mwelase did not only channel this issue, the list is endless. He was a liberator and a hero to many.
“He will be missed for his bravery and hard work,” added Thabethe.
He further cited they have witnessed change through Mwelase and his unexpected death deeply affected them.
Ekurhuleni district police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela confirmed police responded to a murder scene in the Masimini section where a man had been shot.
It is alleged there were two men involved, one of whom was armed with a firearm.
“They fired one shot in the air and shot the victim twice in the upper body.
“The suspects ran for a short distance and turned back to the victim. They then shot the victim again three times and ran away,” said Sekgobela.
