Shootings in South Africa claim lives of six ANC members
Two new deaths during the election campaign follow an earlier attack near Johannesburg.
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Six members of the governing African National Congress have been killed in two separate shootings in South Africa this week. The latest attack took place on Thursday during a campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, days after a shooting at a memorial service near Johannesburg.
In the latest attack in Umgababa, south of Durban, two ANC members were reportedly shot at from a vehicle, according to police. A third person was injured while fleeing. Police have not yet established a motive, but say political intolerance cannot be ruled out.
The attack follows a shooting in Katlehong, south-east of Johannesburg. There, four people were killed, according to police and local reports, after a group of memorial-service attendees came under fire. Police said the suspected shooter had surrendered and been arrested.
The victims in Katlehong were reportedly connected to the ANC’s youth wing, according to local media. Police initially confirmed mainly that party members had been present at the memorial service and did not immediately refer to a political motive.
The two incidents come shortly before the local elections on 4 November. The elections are important for the ANC because the party lost its national majority in 2024 and has since been part of a broad coalition government. The local vote is therefore also seen as a test of the party’s grip on power.
Political violence is a recurring problem in South Africa, particularly at local level. According to an analysis by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime cited earlier this month, 43 suspected politically motivated fatal attacks had been recorded by the end of September. That figure is a research estimate, not an official final tally.
Police have handed the Katlehong case to a special unit that investigates political killings. The motive in Umgababa remains unknown. The combination of election campaigns and recent attacks increases pressure on the authorities to protect candidates, party activists and voters without prejudging the guilt of suspects.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Six ANC members were killed in two separate shootings.
- The latest attack took place during a local election campaign.
- A special police unit is investigating the case in Katlehong.
- The motives have not been established.
Left
Arguments The government should not limit political security to deploying more police. Poverty, local exclusion and weak institutions must also be addressed, otherwise violence will continue to recur.
Values Equality, social protection and democratic participation.
Consequences The left fears that voters and local activists will withdraw if elections become associated primarily with intimidation and violence.
Centre
Arguments The first priority is protecting candidates and voters, followed by independent investigation and prosecution. Political parties should cooperate with police and electoral authorities without drawing their own conclusions about the perpetrators.
Values The rule of law, institutional reliability and electoral integrity.
Consequences The centre stresses that visible security is necessary, but that broad political accusations could damage the investigation.
Right
Arguments The state must take tougher action against armed groups and local political networks that use violence. Without deterrence, election rules lose their meaning.
Values Public order, authority and individual responsibility.
Consequences The right fears that weak enforcement will encourage more attacks and further undermine trust in the state.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key facts about the two shootings, the death toll and the election context are supported by AP, Channels Television and a South African news source. The motives are explicitly presented as unconfirmed.
- confirmed Two ANC members were killed on 15 October during a campaign in Umgababa. — Channels Television cites police and local reports. source
- confirmed Four people were killed in the earlier shooting in Katlehong. — AP and The National report four deaths. source
- confirmed The local elections will take place on 4 November. — AP and Channels Television give this date. source
- confirmed The motive for the latest attack has not been established. — Channels Television reports that political intolerance cannot be ruled out, but that the motive is unknown. source
Editor's note
The two incidents and the combined death toll have been reported by multiple public sources. The motives and the attacks’ precise political background have not been established.Sources
- Two ANC Members Killed In South Africa Campaign Shooting — Channels Television
- A gunman kills at least 4 people in shooting after South Africa memorial service — The Associated Press
- Katlehong memorial service shooting: State alleges ‘premeditated’ attack left four dead — The National
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „zuid-afrika anc”
- NOS — „zuid-afrika anc”
- Het Parool — „zuid-afrika anc”