Political Killings in KwaZulu-Natal Surge Ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections

DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — Concerns over political killings in KwaZulu-Natal are reaching a critical peak as the province braces for the 2026 local government elections. Following the recent assassinations of two Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) councillor candidates in separate attacks, calls are intensifying for the Political Killings Task Team to take decisive, expedited action against the escalating violence.

Specialist researcher Maswele Ralebona highlighted the disturbing trend, noting that the current spike in violence is directly tied to the high stakes of municipal control. The human cost of this power struggle was starkly illustrated in a recent incident where a 40-year-old IFP councillor candidate was assassinated in front of his children.

According to research tracking political violence since 2010, at least 110 politicians belonging to the African National Congress (ANC) have been killed in South Africa. In total, 188 councillors and other politicians have lost their lives, with the IFP accounting for 22 of those fatalities. With more than 60 days remaining until the November elections, the current cycle has already seen 16 politicians killed in KwaZulu-Natal, which remains the epicenter of the violence, though incidents are also emerging in the Western Cape and other provinces.

In response to the bloodshed, the IFP has formally requested that the Political Killings Task Team lead the investigations to ensure swift justice and closure for grieving families. The task team was originally established following recommendations from the judicial commission of inquiry into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal (the Madlanga Commission), which heard harrowing testimony from witnesses across the province.

Despite historical attempts by certain factions to hinder the task team’s operations, Ralebona emphasized that the unit has demonstrated significant investigative capacity and political will. He pointed to the ongoing work of Lieutenant General Dumisani Kumalo, whose deep-dive investigations recently succeeded in tracing the remains of an assassinated Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor candidate in Delmas, proving the team’s ability to deliver tangible results.

When examining the root causes of the violence, experts point to a toxic combination of political power struggles, organized crime, and unfettered access to state resources. Municipalities in the region control an estimated R50 billion to R70 billion in tenders, rents, and assets.

Ralebona noted that for some individuals, political office is viewed less as public service and more as an opportunity to control these vast financial resources. Consequently, political competition is being violently weaponized, with rivals choosing to eliminate opponents through assassination rather than facing them in democratic election campaigns.

As the 2026 local government elections approach, the pressure remains on law enforcement and the Political Killings Task Team to dismantle the networks driving this violence and ensure that the democratic process is not held hostage by bloodshed.