Opposition Party Organizer Murdered in KwaZulu-Natal Ahead of South African Elections

An organizer for an opposition party has been fatally shot in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, heightening concerns over political violence as the country approaches its local government elections on Wednesday. Senior police spokesman Robert Netshiunda confirmed on Tuesday that a murder investigation has been launched following the death of Lastborn Shazi. Shazi, identified by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), was shot and killed late Monday at his residence while participating in a Zoom call to coordinate the party’s election campaign. The motive behind the killing is currently under investigation, Netshiunda stated.

South African police reported last weekend that 20 murders involving political representatives, party members, and supporters have been recorded during the current municipal election period. In response to the escalating tensions, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the deployment of over 500 soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal last week to assist the police. Authorities have identified more than 165 polling stations within the province as high-risk.

Voters are scheduled to elect councillors on Wednesday, who will subsequently select mayors responsible for overseeing municipal services such as water, sanitation, and waste management. Recent projections suggest that the MKP is poised to become the leading party in the highly contested eThekwini metropolitan area, the economic heart of KwaZulu-Natal, potentially unseating the governing African National Congress (ANC) in that region. The MKP is led by former President Jacob Zuma, following a significant split from the ANC in 2023. The party’s emergence has contributed to a decline in the ANC’s support, as seen in the 2024 national election. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 and subsequently formed a government of national unity with the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party, and other smaller parties. In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC lost control of several major cities and currently governs others through coalition arrangements.