OMEN
01-05-2009, 10:50 PM
South African official who blew the whistle on alleged corruption in the building of a stadium for the 2010 World Cup has been shot dead, an official said Monday.
Jimmy Mohlala, a member of the local organising committee for the World Cup, was killed on Sunday in the north-eastern city of Nelspruit, local government spokeswoman Bessie Pienaar told AFP.
'He was shot dead at his home in Nelspruit yesterday evening,' said Piennar, adding that more details would be released later Monday.
Mohlala was a former vice president of the South African Football Association and headed the local council for the municipality of Mbombela, where the stadium is being built in Nelspruit for the games.
He made headlines a year ago with reports that some members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wanted him sacked for allegedly turning in a colleague over graft claims in the construction of the Mbombela stadium.
His claims sparked an investigation into a range of allegations, including the manipulation of tenders in 2010 construction contracts, SAPA news agency said.
The 46,000-capacity Mbombela stadium, scheduled for completion this year, is one of 10 venues for the 2010 World Cup.
His death is a 'huge setback' for organising the event in Nelspruit, the head of South Africa's organising committee, Danny Jordaan, said in a statement.
RTE
Jimmy Mohlala, a member of the local organising committee for the World Cup, was killed on Sunday in the north-eastern city of Nelspruit, local government spokeswoman Bessie Pienaar told AFP.
'He was shot dead at his home in Nelspruit yesterday evening,' said Piennar, adding that more details would be released later Monday.
Mohlala was a former vice president of the South African Football Association and headed the local council for the municipality of Mbombela, where the stadium is being built in Nelspruit for the games.
He made headlines a year ago with reports that some members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wanted him sacked for allegedly turning in a colleague over graft claims in the construction of the Mbombela stadium.
His claims sparked an investigation into a range of allegations, including the manipulation of tenders in 2010 construction contracts, SAPA news agency said.
The 46,000-capacity Mbombela stadium, scheduled for completion this year, is one of 10 venues for the 2010 World Cup.
His death is a 'huge setback' for organising the event in Nelspruit, the head of South Africa's organising committee, Danny Jordaan, said in a statement.
RTE