In brief
South Africa’s local elections are amid a spike in political violence, with security officials reporting 20 killings and independent monitors citing 43 deaths in 45 attacks since January. Analysts link the unrest to the economic appeal of municipal offices, while President Cyril Ramaphosa demands justice for those responsible. Meanwhile, auditors reveal that only 39 of 257 municipalities passed clean audits for 2024‑25, adding pressure on local governments.
South Africa entered the final phase of local government elections on Monday, as security officials warned voters of rising political violence and cited 20 deaths in election‑related incidents.
Tebello Mosikili, chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, said Sunday that 20 people had been killed in violence involving political representatives, party members and supporters, with seven arrests made in connection with the killings.
We remain particularly concerned about incidents involving the loss of life during the election period,Mosikili added.
Independent monitoring organisations, including the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI‑TOC), have documented political violence throughout the election period. The GI‑TOC recorded at least 43 people killed in 45 political attacks between January and September, compared with 23 political killings over the same period last year.
Analysts say that the violence is often linked not only to political differences but also to the considerable influence and economic benefits associated with municipal positions. A ward councillor earns more than 25,000 rand (about US 1,500) a month before allowances, a substantial income in a country where the official unemployment rate stands at around 33 percent and the national minimum wage is nearly 6,000 rand.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, campaigning in KwaZulu‑Natal last week, called for those responsible for political killings to face justice, stressing that such violence had no place in a democratic society.
Beyond security concerns, the elections take place against a backdrop of growing public attention to the performance and financial management of local governments. In June, Auditor‑General Tsakani Maluleke reported that 39 of South Africa’s 257 municipalities had obtained clean audits for the 2024‑25 financial year, while none of the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities had achieved the same result.