An opposition party organiser has been shot dead in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, raising concerns over political violence ahead of Wednesday’s local government elections.
Lastborn Shazi, a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), was killed at his home late on Monday while participating in a Zoom meeting to coordinate the party’s election campaign.
Senior police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda confirmed on Tuesday that a murder investigation had been launched, adding that authorities were working to establish a motive for the killing.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over election-related violence across South Africa.
Police reported over the weekend that 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters had been recorded during the municipal election period.
KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as a key electoral battleground, with recent opinion polls suggesting the MKP could become the largest party in the eThekwini metropolitan area, the province’s main economic centre, potentially displacing the governing African National Congress (ANC).
The MKP is led by former President Jacob Zuma, who broke away from the ANC in 2023 following a bitter political dispute. The party’s rapid rise contributed to the ANC losing its parliamentary majority in South Africa’s 2024 national elections.
Amid heightened security concerns, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the deployment of 510 soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal last week to assist police during the elections.
Security authorities have identified more than 165 polling stations across the province as high-risk, prompting additional measures to prevent violence and intimidation as voters prepare to cast their ballots on Wednesday.
