Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on police to arrest and prosecute those responsible for killing councillors and election candidates, warning that political violence threatens South Africa’s democracy ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
Speaking during an ANC door-to-door campaign in eMaGabheni, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, Ramaphosa condemned the attacks and urged law enforcement authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
“Those who are killing councillors, those who are killing candidates are really seeking to destroy the efficacy of our democracy,” he said.
LGE 2026 | ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the killing of councillors and candidates, warning that such violence threatens the integrity of South Africa’s democracy. He says those responsible must be prosecuted. https://t.co/l2ZZk5J8ht
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 28, 2026
The president added that South Africa would not allow political violence to undermine its democratic gains, saying the killings were unacceptable in a country where citizens have the right to choose their representatives.
The warning comes as the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) reported that at least 43 people were killed in 45 suspected politically linked attacks between January and September 2026. The figure exceeds the organisation’s full-year totals for previous election periods, including 30 political killings in 2021 and 33 in 2024.
According to Eyewitness News (EWN), GI-TOC senior adviser Julian Rademeyer said another 10 people had been killed in six incidents during October, raising further concerns about escalating violence as polling day approaches.
Rademeyer warned that the killings were having a “very corrosive impact” on the country’s electoral processes and democracy.
He identified disputes over municipal power, government contracts and political appointments as some of the factors behind the attacks.
“Candidate selections and ward contests have been flashpoints,” he said.
Call for arrests and prosecutions
The violence has affected multiple political parties and civil society groups, with attacks recorded in seven provinces. KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 16 incidents, followed by Gauteng with 10, according to EWN.
Recent cases include the shooting deaths of two ANC members during a door-to-door campaign in Umgababa, KwaZulu-Natal, on October 15. Police said political intolerance could not be ruled out as a possible motive, although the motive had not been established.
Rademeyer also raised concerns about the failure to identify those who order assassinations, noting that investigations often lead to the arrest of gunmen rather than the people who recruit them.
With the local government elections approaching, Ramaphosa has insisted that political violence must not prevent candidates from campaigning or voters from exercising their democratic rights.
“We condemn the killing of councillor candidates, whether serving or prospective, in the strongest terms,” he said.
The president’s call for arrests and prosecutions places renewed focus on the responsibility of law enforcement authorities to protect political representatives, investigate targeted killings and ensure those responsible face justice.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
