Suspected political assassinations in South Africa have claimed at least 43 lives this year through September, with local government elections scheduled for November 4 just a month away, according to a recent report.
The upcoming vote will serve as a crucial test of support for political parties hoping to capitalize on voter disillusionment with the ANC—the dominant party since 1994—amid widespread frustration over failing infrastructure, high crime rates, and persistent corruption.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) stated that the death toll from suspected political hits in 2026 has already surpassed annual totals recorded since it began tracking data in 2015.
The Geneva-based independent civil-society organization warned that this surge arrives with “highest-risk months still ahead as contests for political power gather pace.”
Data compiled in the organization’s “Bullets and Ballots” report showed 45 politically linked attacks recorded through September 30. These targeted actions primarily aimed at political party officials, ward councillors, members of civic organizations, and traditional leadership figures.
Of the 43 fatalities reported, 13 victims were affiliated with the ANC, followed by eight members of the MK Party (MKP), which is led by former president Jacob Zuma.
The geographic concentration of violence was highest in KwaZulu-Natal province, a major stronghold for the MKP, followed by Gauteng province, which encompasses the economic center of Johannesburg, recording 10 incidents.
This municipal election represents a key benchmark for party strength leading up to the 2029 national elections, following the historic shift where the liberation movement lost its absolute parliamentary majority in 2024.
