Johannesburg - Former Rustenburg mayor Matthew Wolmarans will sue the state and seven police officers who implicated and arrested him for the murder of former municipal councillor Moss Phakoe, the Mail&Guardian reported on Friday.
Wolmarans intends to claim damages for wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, loss of income, and injury to social standing, according to the newspaper.
This follows the North West High Court setting aside last week the conviction and sentences of Wolmarans and former mayoral bodyguard Enoch Matshaba for Phakoe's murder.
Wolmarans was jailed for 20 years and Matshaba was sentenced to life in prison in July 2012.
"Everyone sees you as a convicted killer. It becomes your name tag," Wolmarans told the newspaper.
"The damage that this case has done to my life is immeasurable. It was like a big rock has been placed on my shoulders."
He said he lost his job, several comrades and friends, while at the same time there was a lot of support from many people.
Wolmarans's lawyer Raphepheng Mataka said: "There is a case to investigate, but not against us." - Sapa