Mkhwanazi Warns Against Political Blame After Two KZN Party Members Are Killed

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has appealed to political parties to put unity ahead of rivalry following the deaths of two party members in separate incidents shortly before South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections.

Speaking to journalists at a multi-disciplinary police send-off parade at Hoy Park in Durban on Tuesday, November 3, Mkhwanazi addressed the killings of ActionSA activist Victoria Ntombi Mkhize and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party regional organiser Lastborn Shazi.

Mkhize, 63, was found dead on November 1 in the Maphumulo area, north of Durban. Police said she had visible injuries and bruising around her neck. ActionSA alleged that she had been stabbed and strangled outside her home. She was the mother of the party’s Ward 11 candidate in the area.

Shazi was shot dead at his residence in Umzumbe on Monday night, November 2, while reportedly participating in a virtual meeting with the MK Party’s regional elections team.

The timing of the deaths, so close to election day, has raised concern among political organisations and residents. However, Mkhwanazi warned against assuming that the incidents were politically motivated before investigators establish what happened.

“Sometimes we might conclude and assume that the death of the person is political, but when we investigate we discover that perhaps it’s not political. So we leave everything to the investigation to be able to establish exactly what could be the cause,” he said.

The provincial police chief also reminded political actors that electoral competition should not result in the loss of lives.

“We don’t want to lose any of our leaders, or any citizen for that matter, through competition over political parties. I think everyone should be working united on this one instead of fighting against each other,” Mkhwanazi stated.

He added that political parties must recognise that losing an election does not remove their role in the country’s governance. He also warned that law enforcement would discourage anyone who believes violence against rivals could lead to political success.

Both deaths remain under investigation, and no confirmed evidence has established that either was politically motivated. The MK Party has urged its supporters to remain calm and allow investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding Shazi’s killing.

Mkhwanazi’s appeal comes as KwaZulu-Natal prepares for the November 4 elections, with the province’s history of election-related violence placing renewed attention on the safety of political activists, candidates and ordinary citizens.

Source: https://x.com/brieflyza/status/2117593531892244877?s=46

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