South Africa recorded 43 deaths in attacks with an alleged political connection ahead of the local elections on November 4

At least 43 people have been killed in South Africa since the beginning of the year in attacks believed to have a possible political motive, according to a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), cited by AFP. The data was published approximately one month before the municipal elections on November 4.

By September 30, 45 attacks had been recorded, targeting political officials, local councillors, members of civic organizations and community leaders. The number of victims has already exceeded the annual total recorded in every year since GI-TOC began monitoring in 2015.

Of those killed, 13 were members of the African National Congress (ANC), while eight belonged to the MK party (MKP), led by former President Jacob Zuma. Most incidents occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, an MKP stronghold, followed by Gauteng, the province that includes Johannesburg, where ten attacks were reported.

The report “Bullets and Ballots” warns that the period of greatest risk is yet to come, amid an intensifying struggle for power. The local elections will test support for the ANC, which lost its majority in the 2024 national election, ahead of the 2029 general election.