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ActionSA candidate killed and another's home burned in KZN

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

ActionSA says Ward 11 candidate Victoria Ntombi Mkhize was allegedly stabbed and strangled outside her home in Maphumulo, and fire destroyed the Tongaat home of Ward 61 candidate Thembela Makhiloyo. The party wants police to investigate before the 4 November local government elections.

ActionSA's KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, said the party was disturbed by two serious incidents involving its members and their families over the weekend. He said the timing, just days before the elections, is deeply concerning. He called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to investigate.

Preliminary reports said Mkhize was stabbed with a knife and strangled just outside her home. She was an activist and the party's candidate in Mnyameni, in the Maphumulo Local Municipality.

Mncwango said: "Political differences must never lead to violence or loss of life". At least 50 people have died in suspected political murders this election year.

A September report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime counted 43 suspected political assassinations since January. Police have opened 139 election-related criminal cases and arrested 48 suspects. National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of high-risk voting stations in the country.

Key facts

Who
Victoria Ntombi Mkhize (ActionSA activist and Ward 11 candidate in Mnyameni, Maphumulo Local…); Zwakele Mncwango (ActionSA provincial chairperson); Thembela Makhiloyo (ActionSA Ward 61 candidate whose home in Tongaat was destroyed by fire); Julian Rademeyer (author of GI-TOC report 'Ballots and Bullets')
What
ActionSA's KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Zwakele Mncwango said the party was disturbed by two incidents involving its members over the weekend before the 4 November local government elections, and called on SAPS to investigate. Preliminary reports indicated Mkhize was allegedly stabbed and strangled; the article notes at least 50 lives have been lost in suspected political murders this election year.
When
2 November 2026
Where
Maphumulo, Mnyameni, Maphumulo Local Municipality
Status
Reported

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