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Ramaphosa condemns killings of councillor candidates in KwaZulu-Natal

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

Speaking in Magabheni in eThekwini on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had tasked the police with pursuing those responsible for the political killings. The local government elections take place on 4 November.

Ramaphosa spoke to the media after a door-to-door campaign in Magabheni. He said the killings aim to destroy the efficacy of South Africa's democracy and roll back democratic gains. He said: "We condemn the killing of councillor candidates, whether serving or prospective, in the strongest terms."

Data from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, cited in the coverage, counts at least 42 people killed in suspected political assassinations since January 2026. The same period in 2025 saw 23 such killings. At least 10 people have died in political killings since the start of October.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said in August that almost 18 councillors had been killed in the province since the 2021 local elections. He said eThekwini was the province's epicentre of political assassinations.

Ramaphosa also said the ANC will do extremely well and regain a majority in the eThekwini council. A poll of 1 000 registered voters by SABI Strategy Group modelled the MK Party at 43%, the DA at 30% and the ANC at 11%. He also spoke about anti-immigration unrest in Durban, after 510 SANDF members were deployed to KwaZulu-Natal.

Key facts

Who
Cyril Ramaphosa (President of South Africa); Thami Ntuli (KwaZulu-Natal Premier); Mmamoloko Kubayi (chair of the interministerial committee on migration); Thulani Mbana (DA Ward 14 candidate, killed in Zamdela)
What
Ramaphosa, campaigning in Magabheni in eThekwini, condemned a wave of political killings of councillor candidates and PR candidates and said he had tasked the police with pursuing those responsible. He also spoke about the ANC's prospects in eThekwini and about anti-immigration unrest in Durban.
When
28 October 2026
Where
Magabheni, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
Status
Reported

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