UDM councillor gunned down in Nelson Mandela Bay

UDM councillor Luxolo Namette, 45, was shot dead in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Saturday afternoon. The party fears he may have been targeted because of his political activities.

A Nelson Mandela Bay councillor has been shot dead in Motherwell, with the United Democratic Movement (UDM) fearing he may have been killed because of his political activities.

The party identified him as its councillor, Luxolo Namette.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, who did not name him, said a 45-year-old man’s body was found in Umnulu Street, NU9, at about 3.50pm on Saturday.

He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Gantana said police had opened a murder docket.

"Suspects and motive are under investigation," she said.

More details were not immediately available.

In a statement, UDM secretary-general Bulelani Bobotyane said the party was shocked and saddened by Namette’s murder.

Bobotyane said Namette began his political career in the ranks of the UDM Youth Vanguard before becoming a public representative and eventually chairing the municipality's Municipal Public Accounts Committee.

"He was one of our own, and his murder has shaken us to the core," Bobotyane said.

The UDM said it was concerned that the killing could have been politically motivated.

"While we do not wish to prejudge the outcome of the investigation, we cannot ignore the possibility that councillor Namette was targeted because of his political activities or his responsibilities as a public representative."

The party said it would escalate the matter to the Political Killings Task Team and request that it receive specialised attention.

The UDM secured 2,41% of the vote in Nelson Mandela Bay in the 2026 municipal elections, according to the IEC’s results dashboard, with three seats.