There have been a number of political assassinations in post-apartheid South Africa.ANC: A party under violent, criminal siege
Paul Trewhela, ''Mail & Guardian'', 4 August 2012 In 2013 it was reported that there had been more than 450 political assassinations in the province of KwaZulu-Natal since the end of

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

in 1994.A Provincial Concern? Political Killings in South Africa
David Bruce, ''SA Crime Quarterly'' 2013 In July 2013 the ''Daily Maverick'' reported that there had been "59 political murders in the last five years".KZN: Anatomy of an assassination
Niki Moore, ''Daily Maverick'', 31 July 2013 In August 2016 it was reported that there had been at least twenty political assassinations in the run up to the local government elections on the 3rd of August that year, most of them in KwaZulu-Natal. Political assassinations have often been ascribed to battles around patronage within the ruling

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...

.The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem
by Sipho Hlongwane, ''The Daily Maverick'', 23 July 2012A Culture of Political Assassination
Jane Duncan, ''SACSIS'', 2010 However, not all assassinations are a result of conflict within the ruling party. The

National Freedom Party The National Freedom Party (NFP) is a South African political party. It was launched on 25 January 2011 by Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, former chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), along with other former IFP members. Election results ...

led by Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, with its base largely in KwaZulu-Natal, claims that 21 of its members have been killed since the party was founded in early 2011. The

Inkatha Freedom Party The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded ...

claims that ten of its elected representatives have been murdered.Quintal, Genevieve (29 July 2012)
Political Murders – It's About the Dough
SAPA In June 2013

Abahlali baseMjondolo Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM, , in English: "the residents of the shacks") is a socialist shack dwellers' movement in South Africa which organises land occupations, builds communes

, an autonomous shack dwellers' movement in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

, claimed that the murder of Nkululeko Gwala, a local leader in the organisation, was a political assassination.KZN protest leader shot 12 times
Nkululeko Nene, ''Daily News'', 27 June 2013 In May 2016 two ANC councillors were convicted of murder following the assassination of Thuli Ndlovu, also a local leader in Abahlali baseMjondolo . In September 2020 it was reported that "Since 2016, there have been at least 38 assassinations and 14 attempted assassinations in mining localities in KwaZulu-Natal." According to

Raymond Suttner Raymond Suttner (born ) is South African activist, academic, journalist and public figure. Education and activism Suttner was born in Durban, South Africa. He obtained BA and LLB degrees from the University of Cape Town and an inter-disciplinar ...

"assassinations have become a regularised way of deciding on leadership and access to wealth within the ANC and its allies". In 2016 the ANC Secretary General,

Gwede Mantashe Samson Gwede Mantashe, popularly known as Gwede Mantashe, (born 21 June 1955) is a South African politician and trade unionist, who as of 18 December 2017, serves as the National Chairperson of the African National Congress. He is also a former ...

said: "The reality is that selection of candidates for council is always a life-and-death issue. But assassinations are only the most extreme tip of the iceberg of violence that surrounds South African elections. David Bruce published an extensive report on the 2014 election pointing to the subtle and complex ways in which the ANC intimidates its political rivals. In the run up to the 2014 election the

Independent Electoral Commission An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...

did little to intervene to prevent violence, the abuse of government rescources and the use of the state run media (the SABC) to favour the ruling party. Mark Shaw and Kim Thomas have recorded just over 1,000 individual cases of assassination or attempted assassination. The high prevalence of political assassinations in South Africa was discussed at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022.

Location of assassinations

It has been argued that the situation is particularly bad in the provinces of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal with KwaZulu-Natal being, by far, the worst. KwaZulu-Natal has been described as the "epicenter of political violence" while Mpumalanga has been described as "notorious for political assassinations" Fourteen assassinations have been documented in MpumalangaBruce, David (7 October 2012) and 450 in KwaZulu-Natal. It has been reported that "Since the beginning of 2011, the murder of people with high political profiles has been confined almost exclusively to KwaZulu-Natal, with 27 in the province since February 2011. According to the ANC 38 of its members have been assassinated in KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of 2011.Wheels of justice turn slowly as political killings escalate
David Bruce, ''Mail & Guardian'', 26 October 2012 It has been suggested that support for murders in the taxi industry in KwaZulu-Natal by leading figures in the ruling party legitimated the use of violence in the democratic era which then spilled over into the political sphere.

Conviction rates and a possible 'licence to kill'

There has been one conviction in response to the fourteen assassinations in Mpumalanga and four in KwaZulu-Natal for forty two assassinations leading one researcher to conclude that some people are starting to believe there may be a "general licence for political killings" but that "this may only be available to people in certain political positions".

List of politicians assassinated in post-Apartheid South Africa

* Thomas Shabalala, IFP MP (and former warlord), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2005 * Thandi Mtsweni, Deputy Mayor, Secunda, Mpumalanga, 2007 * Rajah Naidoo, Independent councillor,

, KwaZulu-Natal, 2007 * Moss Phakoe, ANC councillor,

Rustenburg Rustenburg (; , Afrikaans and Dutch: ''City of Rest'') is a city at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Rustenburg is the most populous city in North West province, South Africa (549,575 in 2011 and 626,522 in the 2016 census). In 20 ...

North West Province North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng and south of Botswana. History North West was incorporated after the end of Apartheid in 1994, an ...

, 2009 * Caswell Maluleke, ANC Mayor Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 2000 * Jimmy Mtolo, local ANC leader, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009 * Sthembiso Cele, chairperson of the ANC Youth League in Umgababa, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007–2012
Quintal, Genevieve SAPA, 29 July 2012 * Bongani Ngcobo, ANC leader, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009 * Jabulani Khumalo, ANC leader, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009 * Jimmy Mohlala, ANC leader, Mbombela, Mpumalanga, 2010 * James Nkambule, senior ANC politician, Mpumalanga, 2010Murders rock ANC
Paddy Harper, Mmanaledi Mataboge and Sizwe sama Yende, ''City Press'', 29 July 2012 * Sammy Mpatlanyane, senior ANC politician, Mpumalanga, 2010 * John Ndlovu, ANC politician, Thulamasha, Mpumalanga, 2011 * S'bu Sibiya, ANC regional secretary, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2011Three arrested for the murder of eThekwini councillor
''City Press'', 2011 * Wiseman Mshibe, ANC councillor, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2011 * Wandile Mkhize, ANC chief whip, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012 * Nhlakanipho Shabane, ANC member, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012 *Dumisani Malunga, ANC member, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012 *Bheki Chiliza, ANC member, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012 *Mthembeni Shezi, ANC Councillor, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 2012 *David Mosiane Chika, ANC Leader, North West 2012 * S'bu Majola, ANC branch chairperson, Wembezi,

Estcourt Estcourt () is a town in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The main economic activity is farming with large bacon and processed food factories situated around the town. The N3 freeway passes close to the town, link ...

, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 * Makhosonke Msibi, ANC Councillor, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 * Siphumelelo Buthelezi, NFP Councillor,

Ulundi Ulundi, also known as Mahlabathini, is a town in the Zululand District Municipality. At one time the capital of Zulu Kingdom in South Africa and later the capital of the Bantustan of KwaZulu, Ulundi now lies in KwaZulu-Natal Province (of which, ...

, 3 November 2013 * Buyisile Mkavu, ANC Councillor, KwaLanga, Uitenhage, 4 August 2014 * Charles Thembisile Kanku, ANC ward councillor, Cape Town, 20 October 2014

List of other political assassinations in post-Apartheid South Africa

* Sinethemba Myeni, 12 April 2006,

Umlazi Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region. It is the fourth largest ...

, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (former SACP member supporting independent candidate in local government elections)Umlazi Political Violence
Press Statement, 2006 * Mazwi 'Komi' Zulu, 3 May 2006, Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (former SACP member supporting independent candidate in local government elections) * Scorpion Dimane, anti-mining activist, Mbizana, 2008 * Mbongeleni Zondi, traditional leader with close ties to Jacob Zuma and the ANC, Durban, 2009 * Mthunzi Nkonki, MV veteran, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, 2010 * Bomber 'Radioman' Ntshangase, SACP leader, Mpumalanga, 2012 * Kevin Kunene, environmental rights activist, KwaMbonambi, 2012 * Dalivuyo Bongo, National Union of Mineworkers, Rustenburg, North West, 2012 * Thembinkosi Qumbelo, Local activist and ANC leader, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 * Two unnamed members of

, KwaNdengezi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 * Steve Khululekile, AMCU regional organiser, Rustenburg, North West, 2013 * Nkululeko Gwala,

activist, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 * Sthembiso Biyela & Buyisile Malusi, (Biyela was reported to have left the IFP to join the ANC) Durban, 2014 * Njabulo Ndebele, Sibonelo “John-John” Ntuli and Ntobeko Maphumulo, NUMSA leaders, Isithebe, KwaZulu-Natal, August 2014 * Thuli Ndlovu, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, KwaNdengezi, Durban, 2014 * Charles Khanku, SANCO leader, Cape Town * Mobeni Khwela, Local SACP activist, KwaNdengezi, Durban, 2014 * Mbuyiselo Phajana Mnguni, Free State regional chairperson of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union, 2014 * Chris Nkosi, Gauteng secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, Germiston, 2015 * Philip Dlamini & another unnamed man, SACP members, Durban, 2015 * Sikhosiphi 'Bazooka Rhadebe', Chairperson of the chairman of the Amadiba Crisis Committee, Mbizana, Eastern Cape, 2016 *Nontsikelelo Blose, SACP activist, KwaZulu-Natal, 2016 * Mthunzi ‘Ras’ Zuma, Cape Town, 2017 * S'bonelo Mpeku, Chairperson of an Abahlali baseMjondolo branch in

Lamontville Lamontville is a town in EThekwini in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Township south of Durban, on the Umlaas River and next to Mobeni. It was laid out in 1930 and named after the Revd Archibald Lamont Archibald Lamont (21 ...

, Durban, November 2017 * Soyiso Nkqayini, Youth League organiser for Abahlali baseMjondolo in Cato Manor, Durban, December 2017 * S'fiso Ngcobo, Chairperson of an Abahlali baseMjondolo branch in Marianhill, Durban, May 2018 * Bongani Cola, Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA, Port Elizabeth, 2019 * Malibongwe Mdazo, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa,

, 18 August 2021 * Ayanda Ngila, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Durban, 8 March 2022 * Nokuthula Mabaso, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Durban, 5 May 2022 * Lindokuhle Mnguni, Abahlali baseMjondolo leader, Durban, 20 August 200

List of assassinations of government officials in post-Apartheid South Africa

* Noby Ngombane, Head of the Free State government's policy monitoring and evaluation unit,

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein, ( ; , "fountain of flowers") also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State province. It serves as the country's judicial capital, along with legislative capital Cape To ...

, Free State, 2005 * Sammy Mpatlanyane, spokesman for the Mpumalanga department of culture, sport and recreation, Nelspruit, 2010 * Oupa Matlaba, City Power,

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...

, 2011 * Andile Matshaya, Internal Auditor, Department of Transport, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012 * Lawrence Moepi, Forensic Auditor at a private firm contracted to the Public Protector's Office, Johannesburg, 2013 * Moses Tshake, Head Auditor, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Free State, 2013 * Babita Deokaran, Gauteng Department of Health, 23 August 2021 * Fundile ‘Jeff’ Budaza, Makhanda, 2022Makhanda mourns the death of Fundile ‘Jeff’ Budaza
Anna Majavu, ''New Frame'', 10 June 2022

Notes and references