SALGA has called for political assassinations to be classified as priority crimes after recent murders believed to linked to political motives.
Image: File
A bloody weekend of coordinated political hits across three provinces has sparked deep fears of pre-election violence ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 Local Government Elections.
Four politically affiliated individuals were gunned down in separate, ruthless attacks over just 48 hours, forcing the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to issue an urgent plea to treat political assassinations as priority crimes.
The weekend of terror unfolded across the country's major regions:
SALGA, which tracks these attacks through its Municipal Violence Incident Reporting (MVIR) system, warned that this sudden spike in bloodshed is not isolated. Instead, it signals the start of a deeply concerning historical pattern where violence aggressively intensifies the closer the country gets to an election date.
Data from the MVIR system reveals that hundreds of incidents, ranging from threats and intimidation to outright executions have plagued the local government sphere since 2000.
"Political violence undermines the foundations of our democracy," SALGA warned in a scathing statement condemning these callous acts. "It creates fear, discourages citizens from serving in public office, and erodes the integrity of electoral processes. No one should ever lose their life simply for participating in democratic activities."
With tensions boiling over, the association is demanding immediate, aggressive intervention from law enforcement. SALGA called for swift and decisive investigations, expedited prosecutions, and heightened police visibility in identified hotspots. The body stressed that perpetrators must face the full might of the law, with consequences visible enough to send an unequivocal message that violence will not be tolerated.
However, SALGA did not just point fingers at the police, it also took aim at political organisations, calling out the internal power struggles that often turn deadly. The body placed the onus squarely on political parties, candidates, and local communities to actively crush factional violence, inflammatory conduct, and intimidation within their own ranks.
"Political parties have a responsibility to manage internal contestation responsibly, promote tolerance among supporters, cooperate fully with law enforcement, and ensure that competition for public office never becomes a trigger for violence," SALGA stated.
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