The credibility of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa has been thrown into further doubt after it was confirmed today a former vice-president of the country's Football Association was shot dead on Sunday.
Jimmy Mohlala, a member of the local organising committee, was killed at his home in the north-eastern city of Nelspruit, local government spokeswoman Bessie Pienaar told said.
"He was shot by two unknown men who were wearing balaclaves...the gunmen had been lying in wait outside the Mohlala home in an unmarked vehicle," the Mbombela Local Council Municipality said in the statement.
His son was shot in the leg during the attack and is stable in hospital.
Mohlala was a former vice president of the South African Football Association (SAFA). Last year, as a council member for the municipality of Mbombela - where the stadium is being built - he implicated the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party in claims of corruption.
He sparked an investigation into a range of allegations, including the manipulation of tenders in 2010 construction contracts, SAPA news agency said.
The 46,000-capacity Mbombela stadium, scheduled for completion this year, is one of 10 venues for the 2010 World Cup.
His death is a "huge setback" for organising the event in Nelspruit, the head of South Africa's organising committee, Danny Jordaan, said in a statement.
H owever, Mohlala's death may have further repercussions if Fifa decides the latest incident is grounds enough for a rethink on the tournament venue.
Last month, Fifa president Sepp Blatter insisted it was too late to change the host nation, despite a series of missed deadlines and concerns over the violent crime rate.
