Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

05 October 2026

3-minute read

Political violence is once again ravaging South Africa ahead of the local government elections set to take place on the 4^th of November with 42 people murdered in less than a year.

Data indicates that bullets rather than ballots are increasingly being leveraged to settle factional disputes and control of municipal resources. According to political analyst and criminal expert Professor Jéan Steyn, even “one murder is unacceptable”. Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa 33 years ago, statistics show an average of 58 murders per day, with the average annual politician murder rate being 11 times that of the national rate. “This enables criminal governance and a criminal state,” Prof Steyn emphasized, dimming any hope of change until and unless it is addressed.

While in the past murders of politicians were driven by ideological rivalry, linking local government with lucrative state tenders’ points to a darker reality. Referring to recent convictions, Professor Steyn cited the tenders, the budgets, the battle for limited resources among politicians, and the finances as some of the reasons for the increase in political murders.

In rural areas, especially in KZN, young men are being recruited and vying for jobs to kill candidates or individuals canvassing to be on the ballot. Considering the history from the apartheid era of 1987 where hitmen were contracted to kill politicians, Professor Steyn stated that this tendency was “conditional but not causal.” But the continuation of political killings post-apartheid indicates that the crime has become accepted, and is supported due to lack of hope, poverty, and the inequality in societies. SAPS reports show that almost 8 000 firearms were stolen over the 2024/2025 period, pointing to an undercover crime and violence business that is thriving around the country.

Unfortunately, the threat of political killings that result in the candidates’ voters may have believed in to make a change being removed from the ballot, has caused the hope of many to be diminished. This can lead to less people going out to vote for their values and principles, and what they believe in and stand for. “It speaks to our democracy, to our freedom of choice, to our peace that we dream of,” said Professor Steyn.

To stop the killings, political parties must take account and make it clear that political violence is unacceptable, and that perpetrators will be held accountable through things like the Madlanga Commission, task teams investigating and reporting back, and the public being kept informed. Assuring South Africans that their vote matters should instil hope that ought to “flourish and bloom going into the future,” the professor concluded.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Ibrahim Daya and Professor Jéan Steyn here.