Quiet Kgatla, the Madibeng Municipal Manager, survived a “targeted assassination” attempt while he was driving home.
The Madibeng Local Municipality is in shock today after a terrifying attack on its top official.
Quiet Kgatla, the Municipal Manager, survived a targeted assassination attempt while he was driving home. The incident took place on the R511 road near the Sasol garage in the Zilkatznek area on Wednesday evening.
Initial reports indicate that a dark grey Volkswagen Polo began following Mr. Kgatla’s vehicle as he traveled along the road. Without warning, the occupants of the car opened fire. It was a violent attack that left his vehicle riddled with bullet holes. Investigators have confirmed that his car was struck at least eight times during the shooting.
Despite the intensity of the attack, Mr. Kgatla survived. He sustained two gunshot wounds during the drive-by shooting, with bullets passing through his shoulder and his leg. Emergency services arrived quickly, and he was rushed to the Mediclinic Brits hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Mr. Kgatla is a well-known figure in the public sector with a history that is marked by both administrative leadership and significant controversy. He was appointed as the Municipal Manager for the Mopani District Municipality in February 2020, having previously served as the Chief Financial Officer. He resigned from the Mopani position with immediate effect on 8 February 2022, after almost two years in the role. In his resignation letter, he expressed gratitude to the council, stating he was privileged to work under a “caring and considerate” council. Executive Mayor Cllr Pule Shayi at the time thanked Kgatla, calling him a “skilled and hardworking administrator.”
However, his time in Mopani was also defined by serious allegations. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo accused him of corruption and dishonesty, specifically regarding “illegal payments and fraud” related to transformer installations. A Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report revealed that while he was Chief Financial Officer, Kgatla approved a payment of R3.1 million to a service provider, Twin Corner Construction and Projects, for services that were never rendered. The EFF alleged that Kgatla permitted fruitless and wasteful expenditure and acted with negligence, contravening the Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act. The Mopani District Council ultimately resolved to recover the lost funds from Kgatla and the service provider.
His tenure in Madibeng has been equally turbulent. In April 2026, bribery and corruption allegations surfaced involving both Mr. Kgatla and the former Madibeng Local Municipality Mayor, Douglas Maimane. These claims stemmed from an explosive leaked audio recording in which Maimane was allegedly heard offering R200,000 to opposition councillors to sabotage the ANC ahead of local government elections. This scandal led to the initial removal of the Mayor, though he was later reinstated following a High Court injunction.
This incident highlights the growing danger faced by municipal officials who are often tasked with making difficult decisions regarding local government contracts and budgets. The attack at Zilkatznek is being treated as a serious crime, and law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation into the motive behind the shooting.
For now, the focus remains on Mr. Kgatla’s recovery at the hospital. Colleagues and residents are waiting for updates on his condition as the police search for the suspects involved in the grey Polo. The brazen nature of the attack, occurring on a busy road near the Hartebeespoort Dam, has sparked calls for improved security for local government leaders. As the investigation unfolds, the community continues to express relief that he survived this violent encounter. The quiet evening commute turned into a life-threatening ordeal, serving as a grim reminder of the high-stakes environment in which some public servants work today.
Quiet Kgatla’s bullet-riddled car.