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DA candidate says petrol bomb hit wrong house in Soweto

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

Mandla Nyaqela, the DA candidate for Ward 48 in Johannesburg, says attackers meant to target him when a petrol bomb was allegedly thrown at his neighbour's home on Tuesday. No criminal case was opened over the attack.

The petrol bomb was allegedly thrown in the early hours of Tuesday at the home of DA activist Sipho Sibiya. Sibiya said the attack was meant to intimidate Nyaqela. Nyaqela said the attackers mistook his neighbour's house for his.

Nyaqela said he and the DA do not trust the Dobsonville police officers, so no case was opened for the attack. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said an earlier intimidation case by Nyaqela was under investigation. He opened that case at Dobsonville police station on 23 October. Police have made no arrests.

DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg Helen Zille called the incident outrageous. She said petrol attacks just days before elections raise valid suspicions about political motivation.

Key facts

Who
Mandla Nyaqela (DA ward candidate for Ward 48 in the City of Johannesburg); Sipho Sibiya (DA activist whose home was allegedly petrol-bombed); Helen Zille (DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg); Thulani Michael Mbana (DA caucus leader and ward councillor in Metsimaholo Local Municipality, killed…)
What
In the early hours of Tuesday, a petrol bomb was allegedly thrown at the home of DA activist Sipho Sibiya, which Sibiya said was meant to intimidate Nyaqela. Nyaqela said he believed the house was mistaken for his, and no criminal case had been opened over the attack; police said an earlier intimidation case by Nyaqela was under investigation with no arrests.
When
27 October 2026
Where
Johannesburg, Dobsonville, Soweto
Status
Reported

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