Murunwa Makwarela (1972 – 23 April 2024) was a South African politician, genetic engineer, academic and businessman who served as the Mayor of Tshwane, from 28 February 2023 until he was fired by the city manager on 7 March 2023 for being declared insolvent in 2016.
Prior to his election as mayor, he was the council speaker, serving as part of a multi-party coalition led by the Democratic Alliance and other parties.
He subsequently studied at the University of Natal's Durban campus from which he obtained an honours degree in Plant Biotechnology in 1995 followed by a Master of Science in Eucalyptus cold tolerance and tissue culture in 1997.
[1] Makwarela then found employment at the City of Tshwane as the strategic executive director of the municipality's Agriculture and Environmental Management Department between 2007 and 2012.
[2] In April 2022, the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters called for him to resign as council speaker amid allegations of graft and sexual assault levelled against him, which he responded to by saying: It"s all lies.
"[3] On 17 November 2022, Makwerela opened a criminal case at the Brooklyn Police Station after he was allegedly assaulted by ANC councillors during a council meeting two days earlier.
[5] The DA, as per the coalition agreement signed between the parties, nominated MP Cilliers Brink as their candidate whom Makwarela initially pledged to support.
City manager Johann Mettler’s office served Makwarela with a notice to prove he has since been rehabilitated, but he failed to provide any evidence.