Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

11 August 2026

2-minute read

Seven political party councillors have been murdered in the run-up to elections with seven suspects arrested thus far.

The targets include a DA member in the Western Cape, ANC members in the Eastern Cape and KZN, and four in Gauteng; two from the EFF and two from the MK Party.

According to political analyst Roland Henwood, trends historically “follow a particular pattern,” pointing to an increase in political killings close to elections cycle. Whereas mainly aspiring ANC councillors were targeted in the past, this time around, role players from other political parties are also being killed.

The driving force behind these killings are the access to criminal networks and control of resources where the “right” people are aligned to the “right” parties to influence decision making and party structures. Another element motivating the murders is self-enrichment, where a political career is considered the best way to ensure a better life than most.

So, knowing about this phenomenon, why have we not been able to quell it? Roland asserts that the people involved in these murders are part of bigger groups that have political cover, killings are “geographically localized” as they are in KZN, gang related as is the case in the Western Cape and show signs of collusion as depicted in the judicial system and the prosecutorial services of the Madlanga Commission.

Furthermore, proper investigations into senior political leadership have never been undertake. “The control measures do not seem to work,” Roland concludes.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Roland Henwood here.