Political assassinations in post-apartheid South Africa explained

There have been many political assassinations in post-apartheid South Africa.[1] [2] 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 in 1994.[3] In July 2013 the Daily Maverick reported that there had been "59 political murders in the last five years".[4] 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.[5]

Political assassinations have often been ascribed to battles around patronage within the ruling African National Congress.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] However, not all assassinations are a result of conflict within the ruling party. The National Freedom Party 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.[12] The Inkatha Freedom Party claims that ten of its elected representatives have been murdered.[13] In June 2013 Abahlali baseMjondolo, an autonomous shack dwellers' movement in Durban, claimed that the murder of Nkululeko Gwala, a local leader in the organisation, was a political assassination.[14] [4] In May 2016 two ANC councillors were convicted of murder following the assassination of Thuli Ndlovu, also a local leader in Abahlali baseMjondolo .[15] 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."[16]

According to Raymond Suttner "assassinations have become a regularised way of deciding on leadership and access to wealth within the ANC and its allies".[17] In 2016 the ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe said: "The reality is that selection of candidates for council is always a life-and-death issue."[18] Assassinations is only part 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.[19] In the run up to the 2014 election the Independent Electoral Commission did little to intervene to prevent violence, the abuse of government resources and the use of the state run media (the SABC) to favour the ruling party.[20]

Mark Shaw and Kim Thomas have recorded just over 1,000 individual cases of assassination or attempted assassination.[21]

The high prevalence of political assassinations in South Africa was discussed at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022.[22]

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.[10] [23] [24] [25] KwaZulu-Natal has been described as the "epicenter of political violence"[26] while Mpumalanga has been described as "notorious for political assassinations"[27] Fourteen assassinations have been documented in Mpumalanga[28] and 450 in KwaZulu-Natal.[3] 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.[28] According to the ANC 38 of its members have been assassinated in KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of 2011.[29] 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.[29] [30] [31]

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".[28]

List of politicians assassinated in post-Apartheid South Africa

List of other political assassinations in post-Apartheid South Africa

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-08-04-anc-a-party-under-violent-criminal-siege ANC: A party under violent, criminal siege
  2. Quintal, Genevieve (29 July 2012). Political Murders – It's About the Dough, SAPA,
  3. http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/SACQ45.pdf A Provincial Concern? Political Killings in South Africa
  4. http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-07-31-kzn-anatomy-of-an-assassination KZN: Anatomy of an assassination
  5. https://uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/1f1bc5e01ee0c7d6f1ec507ae666361b/ancs-kzn-political-killings/index.html Local Government Elections 2016'
  6. http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-07-23-analysis-the-ancs-provincial-criminal-enterprises-problem The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem
  7. http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2013-01-23-power-money-and-the-anc-there-will-be-blood Power, money and the ANC: There will be blood
  8. http://thinkafricapress.com/south-africa/political-violence-south-africa-growing-pains-democracy-or-adolescence-anc Why Are Political Killings Increasing in South Africa?
  9. http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=176696 Murder takes party infighting to new level
  10. http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/575.1 A Culture of Political Assassination
  11. http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/744.1 Murder, Lies and Corruption: Mbombela and the Bequeathal of the ANC's 'Family' War
  12. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/another-nfp-member-killed-1.1344397#.UA0Yp2HVWFc Another NFP member killed
  13. Quintal, Genevieve (29 July 2012). Political Murders – It's About the Dough, SAPA
  14. http://www.abahlali.org/node/9840 KZN protest leader shot 12 times
  15. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/anc-councillors-jailed-for-activists-murder-2024406 ANC councillors jailed for activist’s murder
  16. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-14-empembeni-mirrors-the-scourge-of-mining-related-assassinations-in-kzn/ eMpembeni mirrors the scourge of mining-related assassinations in KZN
  17. http://raymondsuttner.com/2013/08/18/raymond-suttner-government-and-tripartite-alliance-no-pitch-at-marikana-memorial Government and tripartite alliance ‘no pitch’ at Marikana memorial
  18. https://www.businesslive.co.za/rdm/politics/2016-02-29-political-assassinations-are-on-the-rise Political Assassinations are on the rise
  19. Web site: Just singing and dancing? Intimidation and the manipulation of voters and the electoral process in the build-up to the 2014 elections . Community Agency for Social Enquiry . April 2014.
  20. https://commonwealth-opinion.blogs.sas.ac.uk/2018/democracy-and-violence-the-threat-to-south-africas-elections/ Democracy and violence: the threat to South Africa’s elections, Martin Plaut, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 2 February 2018
  21. The Commercialization of Assassination: 'Hits' and Contract Killing in South Africa, 2000–2015 . 10.1093/afraf/adw050. 2016 . Shaw . Mark . Thomas . Kim . African Affairs .
  22. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-11-21-un-member-states-call-for-the-protection-of-sas-human-rights-defenders-and-whistle-blowers/ UN member states call for the protection of SA’s human rights defenders and whistle-blowers
  23. Hlongwane, Sipho (23 July 2012). The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem, The Daily Maverick
  24. http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-11-15-analysis-meanwhile-on-the-killing-fields-of-kzn Analysis: Meanwhile, on the killing fields of KZN
  25. http://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-20-00-can-the-anc-rein-in-grass-roots-coercion Can the ANC rein in grass-roots coercion?
  26. http://www.iol.co.za/mercury/sa-cannot-flourish-in-violent-culture-1.1496070#.UfnZQtLTx35 SA cannot flourish in violent culture
  27. http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/Two-suspects-released-in-Mpumalanga-political-assassination-case-20110110 Two suspects released in Mpumalanga political assassination case
  28. Bruce, David (7 October 2012)
  29. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-10-26-00-wheels-of-justice-turn-slowly-as-political-killings-escalate Wheels of justice turn slowly as political killings escalate
  30. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-10-18-sanctioned-taxi-violence-poisons-kwazulu-natal Sanctioned taxi violence poisons KwaZulu-Natal
  31. http://www.issafrica.org/publications/policy-brief/political-killings-in-south-africa-the-ultimate-intimidation Political killings in South Africa: The ultimate intimidation
  32. http://ww1.aegis.org/news/suntimes/2005/ST050107.html Life and times of a tyrant
  33. Quintal, Genevieve (29 July 2012). South Africa: Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007–2012, All Africa
  34. http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/slain-councillor-was-surrounded-by-dispute-1.315746?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot Slain councillor was surrounded by dispute
  35. http://www.citypress.co.za/Columnists/Moss-Phakoes-spirit-must-galvanise-us-20120721 Moss Phakoe’s spirit must galvanise us
  36. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sowetan/archive/2009/03/16/cops-hunt-for-killer-of-sanco-man Cops hunt for killer of Sanco man
  37. http://allafrica.com/stories/201207300275.html Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007–2012
  38. Quintal, Genevieve (29 July 2012). Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007–2012, SAPA
  39. http://www.citypress.co.za/Politics/News/Murders-rock-ANC-20120728 Murders rock ANC
  40. http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/Two-suspects-released-in-Mpumalanga-political-assassination-case-20110110 "Two suspects released in Mpumalanga political assassination case"
  41. http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/Three-arrested-for-the-murder-of-eThekwini-councillor-20110311 Three arrested for the murder of eThekwini councillor
  42. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-19-darkness-visible-in-jacob-zumas-kingdom-by-the-sea Darkness visible in JZ's kingdom by the sea
  43. http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/2e52c4004cab5c978bcb9fcffabbb648/More-ANC-leaders-gunned-down-in-KZN-20120910 More ANC leaders gunned down in KZN
  44. http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/2e52c4004cab5c978bcb9fcffabbb648/More-ANC-leaders-gunned-down-in-KZN-20120910 More ANC leaders gunned down in KZN
  45. http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=329045&sn=Detail&pid=7161 Mthembeni Shezi dies of his wounds
  46. http://www.citypress.co.za/politics/murder-before-mangaung/ Murder before Mangaung
  47. http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/wembezi-mob-barricades-road-after-political-killing-1.1484766#.UUh1gxe9a28 Wembezi mob barricades road after ‘political’ killing
  48. http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/article9713183.ece ANC councillor shot dead in KZN
  49. http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2013/11/05/nfp-leader-shot-and-killed-in-ulundi NFP leader shot and killed in Ulundi
  50. http://www.citypress.co.za/news/murdered-councillor-hero/ Murdered councillor a ‘hero’
  51. http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2014/12/05/tweet-of-the-week-a-culture-of-political-violence-and-death TWEET OF THE WEEK: A culture of political violence and death
  52. http://abahlali.org/node/89 Umlazi Political Violence
  53. 'We Don't Want Your Development', Jacques de Wet, in Rural Resistance in South Africa, Thembele Kepe & Lungisile Ntsebeza (Eds), UCT Press, 2012
  54. http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/commentary/2011/07/31/is-the-sacp-still-relevant Is the SACP still relevant?
  55. https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/south-africa/report-2013#section-133-10 Amnesty International South Africa Report
  56. http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/accbec004cfad8748665ff7155b3eb28/NUM-branch-secretary-shot-dead-at-Westplats-mine-20120610 NUM branch secretary shot dead at Westplats mine
  57. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cato-crest-community-leader-gunned-down-1.1488319#.UUh1Uxe9a28 Cato Crest community leader gunned down
  58. http://abahlali.org/node/9511 Murder in KwaNdengezi
  59. http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/05/13/another-marikana-murder Another Marikana murder
  60. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b8a413ee-f855-11e2-92f0-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2dKeHpEuTSouth Africa: Killed for crying foul
  61. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/political-intolerance-behind-kzn-murders-1.1669237#.Uzt-SvmSzY4 Political intolerance behind KZN murders
  62. http://www.numsa.org.za/article/numsa-condemns-killing-three-shopstewards-kwazulu-natal/ Numsa condemns killing of its three shopstewards in Kwazulu – Natal
  63. http://groundup.org.za/article/another-abahlali-basemjondolo-member-assassinated_2308 Another Abahlali baseMjondolo member assassinated
  64. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/lili-hit-exposes-anc-cracks-1.1776781#.VFylCvmUfUV Lili ‘hit’ exposes ANC cracks
  65. http://eyethunews.co.za/14087/ziyakhula-izigameko-zokubulawa-kwabantu-besemizini-yabo-kwandengezi/ Ziyanda izigameko zokubulawa kwabantu kwaNdengezi
  66. http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2014/12/05/tweet-of-the-week-a-culture-of-political-violence-and-death TWEET OF THE WEEK: A culture of political violence and death
  67. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/union-leader-gunned-down-in-germiston-1.1844548#.VS-I5yGqqko Union leader gunned down in Germiston
  68. http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2016/01/28/Alliance-takes-strain-in-KZN Inchanga shooting: call for calm
  69. http://www.groundup.org.za/article/opponent-xolobeni-titanium-mine-assassinated/ Opponent of Xolobeni titanium mine assassinated
  70. http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2016/08/22/Protests-in-Inchanga-after-%E2%80%98execution-style%E2%80%99-killing-of-SACP-member Protests in Inchanga after ‘execution-style’ killing of SACP member
  71. Web site: GroundUp: Community leader shot dead after massive Khayelitsha land occupation . Thembela . Ntongana . Abahlali baseMjondolo . 1 June 2017.
  72. http://abahlali.org/node/16525/ Statement on the Assassination of S’fiso Ngcobo, Abahlali baseMjondolo Press statement, 24 May 2017
  73. http://abahlali.org/node/16525/ Statement on the Assassination of S’fiso Ngcobo
  74. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-05-25-dying-for-land-kzn-assassinations-continue/ Dying for Land – KZN assassinations continue
  75. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-07-06-they-left-him-in-a-pool-of-his-blood-saftu-wants-quick-arrest-after-activist-killed/ 'They left him in a pool of his blood' - Saftu wants quick arrest after activist killed
  76. https://groundwork.org.za/fikile-ntshangase-another-environmental-activist-violently-silenced/ Fikile Ntshangase – Another Environmental Activist Violently Silenced
  77. https://www.groundup.org.za/article/workers-tense-platinum-mine-after-assassination-union-recruiter/ Platinum mine tense after assassination of unionist
  78. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-03-15-the-murder-of-abahlalis-ayanda-ngila-is-an-injury-to-us-all/ https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-03-15-the-murder-of-abahlalis-ayanda-ngila-is-an-injury-to-us-all/
  79. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-09-slain-abahlali-basemjondolo-activist-aware-of-danger-she-faced/ Slain Abahlali baseMjondolo activist aware of danger she faced
  80. https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/08/27/lindokuhle-mnguni-is-third-abahlali-basemjondolo-leader-to-be-killed-this-year/ Lindokuhle Mnguni is third Abahlali baseMjondolo leader to be killed this year
  81. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/poo-protester-loyiso-nkohla-was-shot-to-keep-a-cape-town-railway-line-closed-says-brother-in-arms-20230418 Poo protester Loyiso Nkohla was shot to keep a Cape Town railway line closed, says brother-in-arms
  82. Quintal, Genevieve South Africa: Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007–2012, All Africa, 29 July 2012
  83. http://mg.co.za/article/2013-02-08-00-fear-silences-city-power-workers Death of City Power procurement specialist silences staff members
  84. http://www.citypress.co.za/Columnists/Freedom-is-a-killer-20120728 Freedom is a killer
  85. http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2013/10/21/moepi-s-killing-a-hit-cosatu Moepi's killing a hit:Cosatu
  86. http://www.groundup.org.za/content/who-killed-moses-tshake Who Killed Moses Tshake?
  87. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-24-whistle-blower-slain-after-dropping-her-child-at-school-siu-confirms-babita-deokaran-was-a-witness-in-the-r332m-ppe-scandal/ SIU confirms Babita Deokaran, mowed down after dropping child at school, was a witness in the R332m PPE scandal
  88. https://www.newframe.com/makhanda-mourns-the-death-of-fundile-jeff-budaza/ Makhanda mourns the death of Fundile ‘Jeff’ Budaza

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