Erbil:KwaZulu-Natal An organiser from an opposition party has been killed in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, heightening concerns about political violence ahead of Wednesday’s local government elections.
According to Ghana Web, Senior police spokesman Robert Netshiunda announced on Tuesday that a murder investigation has been launched following the death of Lastborn Shazi, who was identified by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). Shazi was shot dead late on Monday at his home while participating in a Zoom call coordinating the party’s election campaign. The police are currently investigating the motive behind the killing.
South African police reported that 20 murders involving political representatives, party members, and supporters have occurred during the municipal election period. In response to the violence, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has deployed over 500 soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal to support police efforts, identifying more than 165 polling stations in the province as high-risk.
Voters on Wednesday will be electing councillors, who will subsequently choose mayors responsible for overseeing municipal services such as water, sanitation, and rubbish collection. Recent polls indicate that the MKP is expected to emerge as the largest party in the eThekwini metropolitan area, potentially displacing the governing African National Congress (ANC) there.
Former President Jacob Zuma leads the MKP following a split with the ANC in 2023, contributing to a decline in the ANC’s support during the 2024 national election. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024, forming a unity government with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and smaller parties. In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC lost control of several major cities and currently governs others through coalitions.