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MK Party organiser Lastborn Shazi shot dead in Umzumbe

Published

The MK Party said its regional organiser was shot at his home on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Monday night. The party wants the provincial police killings task team to investigate, two days before local government elections.

The party said Shazi was shot at his homestead in Umzumbe, in the Ugu area. Police did not immediately respond to queries and had not given further details. One report called him a regional coordinator and said he was in a virtual meeting on election plans.

Party spokesperson Mkhuseli Mlengane said KwaZulu-Natal has a painful history of political killings. The party said anyone who planned or helped with the killing must be identified and brought to justice. One report said the party also asked the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to investigate.

ActionSA representative Zwakele Mncwango said the motive is not known and that people must rely on police investigations. He said it is hard to call the killing political if Shazi received no threats. The elections take place on 4 November 2026.

Key facts

Who
Lastborn Shazi (MK Party regional organiser, shot dead); MK Party (political party that announced the killing and called for an investigation); Robert Netshiunda (police spokesperson, Col); Thami Ntuli (KwaZulu-Natal premier)
What
The MK Party said its regional organiser Lastborn Shazi was killed on Monday on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, shot at his home in Umzumbe. The party called for a thorough investigation by the SAPS provincial killings task team; police did not immediately respond to queries.
When
2 November 2026
Where
Umzumbe, Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal
Status
Reported

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