Political parties and candidates in KwaZulu-Natal have reported intimidation, poster vandalism and killings ahead of next month’s local government elections, prompting renewed concerns about campaign safety.
The incidents have raised concerns about the freeness and fairness of the local government elections next month.
Parties have reported that some of their candidates are fearful of contesting in certain areas, while others have called on the police to act following the destruction of election posters, which they say is undermining the freeness and fairness of the election.
The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said that, while the environment has been largely peaceful, it has received reports of various incidents, including intimidation, in which councillor candidates were told not to campaign in certain areas.
"October has seen an increase in incidents involving campaign posters. These include party members removing or putting up posters over those of other parties,” it said.
The commission said the reported incidents had been resolved amicably by its district conflict-resolution coordinators.
“Some threats also involved independent candidates who had left their parties. They had been threatened not to campaign or put up their posters. In some instances, cases had been opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS),” it said.
At least two parties have reported incidents involving the murder of their members.
Last week, at least two ANC members were shot dead while campaigning on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
ANC spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica said the party was concerned about vandalism of its posters across the province.
“We put up the posters, and they are removed by the morning. All over the province, it is clear that there seems to be a programme to undermine the ANC. This is not right because everyone should be allowed to campaign freely and fairly,” he said.
He said that, following the murder of the two members on the South Coast the previous week, the ANC had urged its members to be more careful, especially when working at night.
“We will continue supporting the families of those who were lost last week. We do not want to speculate about what could have been the reason for this heinous act. Whatever the reason — whether it was political or personal — no one deserves to be killed. We are leaving this matter in the hands of the police and have faith in them,” he said.
DA provincial leader Sithembiso Ngema said the DA and its members had bee subjected to a growing number of incidents of intimidation and interference.
He said that in Msunduzi, DA election posters had been removed and others torn down.
“In uMngeni, disturbing threats have appeared on Facebook, including comments calling for DA members and supporters to be killed. We have evidence of these threats, which we will make available.
“In uMlazi, some DA members have expressed fear of wearing their party T-shirts in public because of reported intimidation."
Several IFP members, including councillor candidates, have also been killed.
Afrika Mayibuye said it had struggled to field candidates in certain areas because of concerns about violence and potential candidates’ fears for their safety.
Party leader Floyd Shivambu said Afrika Mayibuye had recently revealed that it was struggling to field a candidate in Nongoma, in the Zululand District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, ahead of the elections because people feared for their lives.
He said residents were hesitant to associate with political parties because of escalating safety concerns. The anxiety surrounding political affiliations stems from a series of killings in the area.
“I think Nongoma, in my experience, has the highest number of political killings, for one reason or another, whichever political party [is involved],” he said.
Political analyst Professor Musa Xulu said KZN had a long history of political violence. With candidates and campaigners being killed, many prospective candidates and campaigners had become afraid to engage with voters.
“While in most cases it can be assumed that killings come from opposing political parties using izinkabi, it has also been established that internal factions within political parties can lead to internecine violence and political killings, especially around candidate lists. Those left out may resort to violence to enforce their selection."