Four people have been killed, and three others injured in a shooting in Katlehong North, with two of the deceased confirmed as African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) members, raising fresh concerns about political violence ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
The suspect, who handed himself over to police, is expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. The shooting took place on Sophangisa Street on Tuesday evening as the seven victims returned from a memorial service for a party member at Mogobeng Primary School.
Two men, aged 21 and 23, died at the scene, while two others, aged 23 and 27, later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the case, involving four counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, had been assigned to the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) for further investigation.
Police have not confirmed the motive for the shooting.
Political analyst Sandile Swana said the political killings reflected a struggle for access to public resources and the financial rewards associated with political office, rather than ideological differences.
“The root causes of these killings are not ideological,” he said.
Swana said councillor positions could be particularly attractive in communities where unemployment was high, with monthly salaries of between R20 000 and R25 000 offering a significant income.
He identified three potential streams of income: the councillor's salary, access to municipal tenders and the power to influence appointments for factional allies, friends, and relatives.
Swana warned that the violence could continue into 2027 as disputes over candidate lists and possible by-elections created further opportunities for factional battles.
“There could be a lot of by-elections, and some of the gunfire might be used to force by-elections.”
Research fellow Kenneth Kgwadi, of the Middle East Africa Research Institute, also linked political violence to competition for wealth and influence.
“Those who are eyeing opportunities kill those whom they believe are a threat to their wealth accumulation,” Kgwadi said.
He called for the state to limit opportunities for corruption linked to tenders, strengthen police capacity and professionalise the police service.
Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo, who visited bereaved families, said investigators were working to build a case that would stand up in court.
“Nobody should die like this,” Boshielo said.
Boshielo also confirmed that police were assessing their readiness for the elections, with planned visits to Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.
But calls are growing for a more intensive police response to violent crime in Ekurhuleni, with DA MP and portfolio committee on police chairperson Ian Cameron proposing a dedicated 30-day operation to stabilise the municipality's worst crime hotspots.
“Last night’s shootings demand an urgent, intelligence-led operation to stabilise Ekurhuleni’s worst crime hotspots,” Cameron said.
He called on the police to commit dedicated personnel, vehicles, and specialised units for 30 days, with experienced detectives and forensic specialists working alongside prosecutors.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime's latest assessment recorded 205 targeted-killing incidents across all categories between January and September. Of these, 78 were organised-crime hits, already exceeding the 44 recorded for the whole of 2025.
The political affiliations of the Katlehong suspect have also become a point of dispute.
The EFF said the suspect was a member and councillor candidate of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement and denied that any EFF member was involved.
Mayibuye spokesperson Sydney Baloyi denied that the suspect was one of the movement's councillor candidates, saying the organisation was investigating whether he was a member. The movement said it would terminate his membership if that was established.
Police have not confirmed the suspect's political affiliation or established a motive for the shooting.
ActionSA's Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, called for a thorough investigation without political interference.
DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane called for experienced detectives, Crime Intelligence, and forensic specialists to be deployed, arguing that arrests alone were insufficient without convictions.