In brief
The organiser, Lastborn Shazi, was shot dead at his home on Monday night while coordinating a Zoom call for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s campaign. Police have opened a murder investigation amid a surge in political killings during the municipal election period, as President Cyril Ramaphosa deploys soldiers to bolster security in high‑risk polling stations.
An organiser of South Africa's uMkhonto weSizwe Party was shot dead in KwaZulu‑Natal on Monday night, just hours before the country was set to hold local government elections, Al Jazeera reported.
The victim, Lastborn Shazi, was found dead at his home while on a Zoom call to coordinate the party's election campaign, according to police information relayed by Al Jazeera.
Police have opened a murder investigation and are probing the motive, Senior police spokesman Robert Netshiunda said, Al Jazeera relayed.
This killing follows a spate of political killings during the municipal election period, with 20 murders of political representatives, party members and supporters recorded last weekend, Al Jazeera reported.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the deployment of more than 500 soldiers to KwaZulu‑Natal to assist police, who have flagged over 165 polling stations in the province as high‑risk, Al Jazeera said.
Voters will elect municipal councillors on Wednesday, who will in turn choose mayors to oversee municipal services, and current polls suggest the MKP could become the largest party in eThekwini, potentially displacing the African National Congress, Al Jazeera reported.
Former President Jacob Zuma now leads the MKP after a split with the ANC in 2023; the party’s rise has eroded ANC support in the 2024 national election, the outlet noted.
