43 political assassinations: Ramaphosa orders police crackdown ahead of local elections

President Cyril Ramaphosa, seen above on the campaign trail in KwaZulu-Natal, has called on police to arrest and prosecute those responsible for killing councillors and election candidates, warning that political violence threatens South Africa’s democratic gains.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the killing of councillors and candidates ahead of the November 4 local government elections, warning that political violence threatens South Africa’s democracy and calling on police to arrest and prosecute those responsible.

During the ANC’s door-to-door campaign in eMaGabheni, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said the killings undermined the country’s democratic institutions and the right of South Africans to choose their political representatives.

“Those who are killing councillors, those who are killing candidates are really seeking to destroy the efficacy of our democracy,” he said.

His remarks come amid a rise in suspected politically motivated killings ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, at least 43 people were killed in suspected political assassinations between January and September this year, with 45 politically related attacks recorded during that period.

The organisation recorded incidents across seven provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, North West and the Western Cape.

The violence has affected several political parties and public representatives, raising concerns about the safety of candidates and the ability of parties to campaign freely.

In KwaZulu-Natal, two ANC members were shot dead during a door-to-door campaign in Umgababa on October 15. Police said political intolerance could not be ruled out as a possible motive, although the motive had not been established.

In the Western Cape, DA candidate Sinovuyo Dyokwe was shot dead in Dunoon, Cape Town, in June. In Gauteng, ANC councillor Thabang Masemola was killed in Mamelodi East in July 2025, while EFF member Aaron Makola was found dead in Delmas in June this year.

Ramaphosa said he had called on police to pursue those responsible for the killings and ensure they faced prosecution.

“We condemn the killing of councillor candidates, whether serving or prospective, in the strongest terms. And that is why I’ve called on the police to pursue those who are responsible for these murders, catch them, have them prosecuted,” he said.

Those who killed candidates and campaigners were acting against the will of South Africans by undermining their participation in the democratic process.

Ramaphosa said political violence could not be accepted in a democratic country and that the gains made since the end of apartheid should not be reversed by those seeking to prevent candidates from contesting elections or campaigning.

The president said South Africa had a strong and functioning democracy that must be protected from political violence.

“We cannot accept that in a democracy, and South Africa has a very strong and functioning and robust democracy, we will not allow it to be destroyed or even to be set back by the actions of those who are killing those who are either contesting or campaigning,” he said.

Ramaphosa reiterated his condemnation of the killings, saying: “So we reject that in the strongest terms.’’