The core lessons are that people do not disappear without trace in a functioning criminal justice system. Police conduct criminal investigations to uphold the law, not those in power, and the justice system conducts fair trials without bias to the executive.

In Mpumalanga, many people have disappeared without a trace.

The murders of prominent whistle-blowers have gone unsolved.

The people of Mpumalanga owe it to the families of the former speaker of Mbombela Local Municipality Jimmy Mohlala, Johan Ndlovu, Thoko Mtsweni, Sammy Rampatlane and many more, who were shot down after speaking up , to ensure justice takes its course.

Cosatu in Mpumalanga must learn from its branch members in North West how they put Phakoe's murderers behind bars.

Cosatu recently launched Corruption Watch.

This means the South African Municipal Workers' Union must continue to expose corruption, nepotism and graft within local government.

The unions are the true vanguard of the public.

The Mpumalanga criminal justice cluster should go to North West to learn from their counterparts.

Province-to-province peer learning is highly recommended.

Those who are guilty of corruption and murder, regardless of their connections, should be punished severely to deter such crimes from being repeated by others.

Corruption should never be part of the DNA of our governance system . If we allow it to take root , the foundation of our democracy will crumble and eventually government will collapse.