Well liked public servant was godsend for orphans

Born: September 6 1979 Died: March 6 2017 Funeral: Saturday, at Richmond Primary School Burial: Richmond Cemetery

THE community of Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal, especially the orphans who benefited from a school bursary slain municipal boss Sibusiso Sithole administered, are in shock following his murder.

The widely liked Sithole met his violent demise when he was shot dead by unknown people on Monday morning, in full view of pupils of a local primary school.

The murder was committed near the licensing department offices where he was heading to, to register his new car. His killing has not only affected his family but the entire community, according to his brother Mluleki Sithole.

“My brother paid fees for orphaned students at university and he also fed poor families in the area. Now that he is dead I do not know how these people will survive,” Mluleki said.

He added that his brother was destined for bigger things in life as he had just obtained his master’s degree last month.

Sithole, who was married for three years to Silindile Sindane had no children at the time of his death. He grew up in Magoda area near Richmond and attended school there. During the IFP versus ANC violent clashes, his family had to move out of Magoda to live in the town of Richmond.

He matriculated at KwaMncane High School and proceeded to Sibusiso Sithole was serving notice at the manager of the Richmond municipality when he was killed. study at the University of Natal (now UKZN) in Pietermaritzburg.

After graduating, he was employed as an auditor by KPMG in Pretoria.

He returned to KZN to work for uMngeni municipality and later Mpofana municipality, as a chief financial officer.

He also worked as a director for Land Affairs Department in Pietermaritzburg.

At the time of his death he was serving a notice in the Richmond municipality where he worked as a manager. He was gearing to rejoin uMngeni municipality, in Howick, as a manager.

In the 2014 financial year, Richmond was one of the municipalities that were highly praised by the auditor-general for posting a clean audit. In the same year his office was burned down by unknown people.

Political violence has continued to plague the small Midlands town long after the dawn of democracy in South Africa and Sithole is the latest high profile victim.