The City of Tshwane confirmed on Tuesday the passing of former mayor Murunwa Makwarela.

Tshwane Speaker of Council Mncedi Ndzwanana said Makwarela lost his life on Tuesday morning.

Makwarela served as executive mayor during a tumultuous period in the City's politics in March 2023. Prior to his election as mayor, he served as the speaker.

“It is a very sad day for us because we have lost the important person, the former speaker, former mayor and councillor of Tshwane which is Dr Murunwa Makwarela,” he said.

Ndzwanana passed on his condolences to Makwarela’s family and Tshwane residents.

Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink also expressed sadness at the passing of Makwarela.

“Whatever the differences we might have had, and the controversy of his tenure, I am saddened by his passing. I pray that God will comfort his family, and bring them peace,” he said.

City of Johannesburg Council Speaker Margaret Arnolds also passed on condolences to Makwarela's family, the Tshwane Council and Tshwane residents.

“The political landscape mourns with you and celebrates the extraordinary life of this remarkable man who devoted his life to service. His loss will be particularly felt by his comrades, for whom he worked so hard,” said Arnolds.

She stated that the memory of Makwarela's leadership will remain a source of inspiration and encouragement to all his friends, colleagues and fellow councillors.

Makwarela appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court last week, in an insolvency matter, where he failed to have his fraud case struck from the court roll.