At least 43 killed in suspected political attacks this year
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime says the 43 deaths happened in the first nine months of 2026. Senior adviser Julian Rademeyer said 10 more people died in six incidents in October, ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
The organisation recorded the killings in its assassinations database. Attacks happened in seven provinces this year. KwaZulu-Natal had 16 incidents and Gauteng had 10.
Rademeyer spoke in an interview with 702 and CapeTalk. He said the killings have a "very corrosive impact" on South Africa's electoral processes and democracy. He said at least eight witnesses in cases were killed this year, and called witness protection a serious weakness in the state's response.
Rademeyer said investigations often end in the arrest of gunmen, not the people who ordered the attacks. He said hitmen are available from the taxi industry, hostel systems or gang areas. He also said political killings tend to occur in the run-up to elections and sometimes afterwards, not usually on polling day.
Key facts
- Who
- Julian Rademeyer (Senior adviser, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime); Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (Organisation that recorded the killings in its assassinations database)
- What
- GI-TOC senior adviser Julian Rademeyer, citing the organisation's assassinations database, told 702 and CapeTalk that political killings threaten South Africa's electoral processes ahead of the 4 November local government elections. He said 10 more people were killed in six incidents in October so far.
- When
- 27 October 2026
- Where
- South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng
- Status
- Reported