At least 43 people have been killed in South Africa political attacks this year, according to a new report.
The deaths were recorded between January and September 30.
The report comes ahead of South Africa’s local elections on November 4.
Africanews, citing AFP, reported the findings from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).
South Africa political attacks increase
GI-TOC recorded 45 suspected politically linked attacks this year.
At least 43 people were killed in those attacks.
The victims included political party officials and local councillors. Civic activists and traditional leaders were also among those targeted.
According to GI-TOC, the death toll is already higher than any full-year total since it began monitoring such violence in 2015.
The organisation also warned that further violence could occur before the elections.
It said the “highest-risk months” were still ahead as political competition increased.
ANC and MK Party members killed
Members of several political groups were among those killed.
According to the report, 13 victims were members of the African National Congress (ANC).
Another eight were members of the MK Party (MKP).
Former South African president Jacob Zuma leads the MK Party.
However, the report describes the incidents as suspected politically linked attacks. Therefore, a political motive has not been established in every individual case.
KwaZulu-Natal records most attacks
KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of attacks.
The province is a major area of support for the MK Party.
Meanwhile, Gauteng recorded 10 attacks.
Gauteng includes Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and a major economic centre.
South Africa prepares for local elections
South Africa will hold local government elections on November 4.
Voters will choose representatives for municipalities across the country.
The election comes after the ANC lost its national parliamentary majority in 2024.
The party had held a national majority since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.
Therefore, the November vote will provide another measure of party support at the local level.