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Petrol bombs hit DA candidate's Johannesburg home and safe house

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

Yola Minnaar, the DA candidate for Ward 58, says attackers threw petrol bombs at her Jan Hofmeyr home on Sunday evening and then at her safe house. No one was hurt. DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille called it intimidation.

Minnaar says a small group of men threw petrol bombs into her home at around 8:15pm and damaged a bedroom window. Two adults and two children were in the bedroom. Reports gave four petrol bombs at the home.

About half an hour later, five explosives were thrown at the safe house where Minnaar had gone. One went through a window, but nothing exploded. Minnaar thinks the attackers followed her there. Police believe the same people were behind both attacks, because the rags at both places were made of the same cloth.

Zille visited Minnaar on Monday and said the attack was personal and targeted. She said Ward 58 is an ANC ward that Minnaar will win. Minnaar said: "this is not going to stop me from carrying on because to be honest, if they really wanted to get me, I was right there"

Colonel Frans Marweshe, the Florida police station commander, promised that police would take the case seriously and patrol the area. Electoral Commission spokesperson Kate Bapela said it was a matter for the police and that the parties know the code of conduct. The election is on 4 November.

Key facts

Who
Yola Minnaar (DA ward candidate for Ward 58, Johannesburg; known as the Koeksister Queen); Helen Zille (DA mayoral hopeful); Frans Marweshe (station commander, Florida police station); Kate Bapela (national spokesperson for the Electoral Commission of South Africa)
What
Four petrol bombs hit the Jan Hofmeyr home of Yola Minnaar, DA candidate for Ward 58, on Sunday night, and about half an hour later five more explosives were used against her safe house at another location. Helen Zille condemned the attacks as intimidation; police were given leads and the case was taken to Florida police station.
When
25 October 2026
Where
Jan Hofmeyr, Johannesburg, Florida
Status
Reported

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