Mkhwanazi issues WARNING after two KZN political murders
· The South African
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has called for calm after gunmen killed two people linked to political parties ahead of the local government elections.
His warning follows the murder of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party regional organiser Lastborn Shazi at his home in uMzumbe on Monday, 2 November.
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A day earlier, attackers allegedly killed ActionSA activist Victoria Ntombi Mkhize, 63, near her home in Maphumulo.
Speaking at a police deployment parade in Durban on Tuesday, Mkhwanazi urged political parties to put their differences aside and allow investigators to establish the motives behind the killings.
“We don’t want to lose any of our leaders, or any citizen for that matter, through competition over political parties,” he said.
Mkhwanazi cautioned against linking the murders to political rivalries before police completed their investigations.
MK Party organiser killed at home
According to reports, gunmen attacked Shazi while he attended a virtual election planning meeting at his home on Monday night.
The MK Party has called on the Political Killings Task Team to investigate the murder and arrest those responsible.
Shazi’s death came a day after attackers allegedly stabbed and strangled Mkhize, whose child is an ActionSA ward candidate.
Police are investigating both murders and have not confirmed whether politics played a role.
Mkhwanazi warns officers ahead of elections
Mkhwanazi also warned police officers against taking sides during Wednesday’s elections.
Addressing officers at Hoy Park in Durban, he instructed them to remain politically neutral and act against anyone who threatens voters or election officials.
He urged officers to exercise restraint when facing provocation but warned that police would not tolerate attempts to disrupt voting.
Police plan to deploy additional officers across KwaZulu-Natal, where authorities have identified 165 high-risk voting stations.
Officers will monitor polling stations, escort election materials and respond to incidents that threaten the voting process.
20 murders recorded ahead of elections
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) confirmed on Sunday that police had recorded 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters during the election period.
Police arrested seven suspects in connection with the killings.
Gauteng recorded seven murders, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with six.
NATJOINTS also reported 139 election-related criminal cases nationwide, which led to 48 arrests.
Mkhwanazi urged political parties to settle their differences peacefully as voters prepare to head to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November.