South Africa: Two election candidates killed within a week

18:33

By: Azzat Manal

South Africa: Two election candidates killed within a week

South Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a member of the country’s Government of National Unity, has called for the police unit specializing in political assassinations to investigate the killings of two of its local election candidates within the space of a week.

The party said the two candidates were shot dead outside their homes on Monday and Tuesday, just weeks before South Africa’s local elections scheduled for November 4. The killings have raised fresh concerns over political violence ahead of the vote, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where many politically motivated attacks have been recorded in recent years.

IFP spokesperson Mkhuliko Hlengwa described the deaths as a serious development requiring an immediate and decisive response from law enforcement authorities. He called on investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings and identify those responsible.

The incidents came shortly after several IFP supporters were reportedly attacked while putting up election posters in KwaNuswa, in KwaZulu-Natal. The party has urged political organizations, candidates, supporters, community leaders and citizens to reject intimidation and violence during the electoral campaign.

Political assassinations have become a persistent concern in South Africa, particularly around local elections, where competition for political influence and access to public resources can fuel tensions. Around 30 political officials, candidates and activists have reportedly been killed across the country since the beginning of 2026.

More than half of the political killings recorded in South Africa have taken place in KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Gauteng and parts of the Western Cape. The pattern has prompted repeated calls for stronger investigations and greater protection for political candidates and activists.

According to data cited by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, nearly 500 political assassinations were recorded in South Africa between 2000 and 2023. The number has remained significant in recent years, with 31 cases documented in 2023 alone.

The latest killings have intensified concerns about security ahead of the November elections and renewed calls for political parties and authorities to prevent violence from overshadowing the democratic process.