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Political assassinations in post-apartheid South Africa

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There have been a number of political assassinations in post-apartheid South Africa.[1] The figure has been put as high as 56.[2] Many have been ascribed to battles around patronage within the ruling African National Congress[3][4] and it has been suggested that there was an escalation of political assassinations in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[5][6][7] 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.[8] The Inkatha Freedom Party claims that ten of its elected representatives have been murdered.[9]

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][11][12] Mpumalanga has been described as "notorious for political assassinations"[13] and 14 assassinations have been documented in Mpumalanga and 42 in KwaZulu-Natal.[14] 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.[15] According to the ANC 38 of its members have been assassinated in KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of 2011.[16] 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.[17][18]

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 the 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".[19]

List of Politicians Assassinated in Post-Apartheid South Africa

  • Thandi Mtsweni, Deputy Mayor, Secunda, Mpumalanga, 2007[20]
  • Rajah Naidoo, Independent councillor, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2007[21]
  • Moss Phakoe, ANC councillor, Rustenburg, North West Province, 2009[22][23]
  • Caswell Maluleke, ANC Mayor Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, 2000[24]
  • Jimmy Mtolo, local ANC leader, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009[25]
  • Sthembiso Cele, chairperson of the ANC Youth League in Umgababa, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009[26]
  • Bongani Ngcobo, ANC leader, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009[27]
  • Jabulani Khumalo, ANC leader, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, 2009[28]
  • Jimmy Mohlala, ANC leader, Mbombela, Mpumalanga, 2010[29]
  • James Nkambule, senior ANC politician, Mpumalanga, 2010[30]
  • Sammy Mpatlanyane, senior ANC politician, Mpumalanga, 2010[31]
  • John Ndlovu, ANC politician, Thulamasha, Mpumalanga, 2011[32]]
  • S'bu Sibiya, ANC regional secretary, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2011[33]
  • Wiseman Mshibe, ANC councillor, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2011[34]
  • Wandile Mkhize, ANC chief whip, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012[35][36]
  • Nhlakanipho Shabane, ANC member, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012[37]
  • Dumisani Malunga, ANC member, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012[38]
  • Bheki Chiliza, ANC member, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012[39]
  • Mthembeni Shezi, ANC Councillor, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 2012[40]
  • David Mosiane Chika, ANC Leader, North West 2012[41]
  • S’bu Majola, ANC branch chairperson, Wembezi, Estcourt, 2013[42]

List of Other Political Assassinations in Post-Apartheid South Africa

  • Sinethemba Myeni, 12 April 2006, Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (former SACP member supporting independent candidate in local government elections)[43]
  • Mazwi 'Komi' Zulu, 3 May 2006, Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (former SACP member supporting independent candidate in local government elections)[44]
  • Mbongeleni Zondi, traditional leader with close ties to Jacob Zuma and the ANC, Durban, 2009
  • Mthunzi Nkonki, MV veteran, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, 2010[45]
  • Bomber 'Radioman' Ntshangase, SACP leader, Mpumalanga, 2012[46][47]
  • Dalivuyo Bongo, National Union of Mineworkers, Rustenburg, North West, 2012[48]
  • Thembinkosi Qumbelo, Local activist and ANC leader, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 [49]
  • Two unnamed members of Abahlali baseMjondolo, KwaNdengezi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 2013 [50]
  • Steve Khululekile, AMCU official, Rustenburg, North West, 2013[51]

List of Assassinations of Government Officials in Post-Apartheid South Africa

  • Noby Ngombane, Head of the Free State government’s policy monitoring and evaluation unit, Bloemfontein, Free State, 2005[52]
  • Sammy Mpatlanyane, spokesman for the Mpumalanga department of culture, sport and recreation, Nelspruit, 2010[53]
  • Oupa Matlaba, City Power, Johannesburg, 2011[54]
  • Andile Matshaya, Internal Auditor, Department of Transport, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 2012[55]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ ANC: A party under violent, criminal siege, Paul Trewhela, Mail & Guardian, 4 August 2012
  2. ^ Political Murders - It's About the Dough, BY GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, SAPA, 29 JULY 2012
  3. ^ The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem, by Sipho Hlongwane, The Daily Maverick, 23 July 2012
  4. ^ Power, money and the ANC: There will be blood, Mandy de Waal, The Daily Maverick, 23 January 2012
  5. ^ Murder takes party infighting to new level, Setumo Stone, Business Day, 20 July 2012
  6. ^ A Culture of Political Assassination, Jane Duncan, SACSIS, 2010
  7. ^ Murder, Lies and Corruption: Mbombela and the Bequeathal of the ANC's 'Family' War, Dale T. McKinely, 9 September 2011
  8. ^ Another NFP member killed, SAPA, IOL, 18 July 2012
  9. ^ Political Murders - It's About the Dough, BY GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, SAPA, 29 JULY 2012
  10. ^ The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem, by Sipho Hlongwane, The Daily Maverick, 23 July 2012
  11. ^ A Culture of Political Assassination, Jane Duncan, SACSIS, 2010
  12. ^ Analysis: Meanwhile, on the killing fields of KZN, Mandy de Waal, Daily Maverick, 15 November 2012
  13. ^ Two suspects released in Mpumalanga political assassination case, Sizwe Sama Yende, City Press, 2011
  14. ^ Hit men may be back on the job in South Africa, David Bruce, The Sunday Times, page 5, 7 October 2012
  15. ^ Hit men may be back on the job in South Africa, David Bruce, The Sunday Times, page 5, 7 October 2012
  16. ^ Wheels of justice turn slowly as political killings escalate, David Bruce, Mail & Guardian, 26 October 2012
  17. ^ Sanctioned taxi violence poisons KwaZulu-Natal, Niren Tolsi, Mail & Guardian, 19 October 2012
  18. ^ Wheels of justice turn slowly as political killings escalate, David Bruce, Mail & Guardian, 26 October 2012
  19. ^ Hit men may be back on the job in South Africa, David Bruce, The Sunday Times, page 5, 7 October 2012
  20. ^ South Africa: Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007-2012, by GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, All Africa, 29 JULY 2012
  21. ^ Slain councillor was surrounded by dispute, Karishma Ganpath,, IOL, 2007
  22. ^ Moss Phakoe’s spirit must galvanise us, Zwelinzima Vavi, City Press', 22 July 2012
  23. ^ A Culture of Political Assassination, Jane Duncan, SACSIS, 2010
  24. ^ The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem, by Sipho Hlongwane, The Daily Maverick, 23 July 2012
  25. ^ Cops hunt for killer of Sanco man, Canaan Mdletshe, Sowetan, 2009
  26. ^ Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007-2012, BY GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, SAPA, 29 JULY 2012
  27. ^ Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007-2012, BY GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, SAPA, 29 JULY 2012
  28. ^ Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007-2012, BY GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, SAPA, 29 JULY 2012
  29. ^ The ANC's provincial criminal enterprises problem, by Sipho Hlongwane, The Daily Maverick, 23 July 2012
  30. ^ Murders rock ANC, Paddy Harper, Mmanaledi Mataboge and Sizwe sama Yende, City Press, 29 July 2012
  31. ^ Political Murders - It's About the Dough, BY GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, SAPA, 29 JULY 2012
  32. ^ Two suspects released in Mpumalanga political assassination case, Sizwe Sama Yende, City Press, 2011
  33. ^ Three arrested for the murder of eThekwini councillor, City Press, 2011
  34. ^ Three arrested for the murder of eThekwini councillor, City Press, 2011
  35. ^ Darkness visible in JZ's kingdom by the sea, Niren Tolsi, Mail & Guardian, 20 July 2012
  36. ^ ANC: A party under violent, criminal siege, Paul Trewhela, Mail & Guardian, 4 August 2012
  37. ^ Murders rock ANC, Paddy Harper, Mmanaledi Mataboge and Sizwe sama Yende, City Press, 29 July 2012
  38. ^ More ANC leaders gunned down in KZN, SABC, 10 September 2012
  39. ^ More ANC leaders gunned down in KZN, SABC, 10 September 2012]
  40. ^ Mthembeni Shezi dies of his wounds, ANC KZN, 27 September 2012
  41. ^ Murder before Mangaung, by Xolani Mbanjwa, City Press, 16 December 2012
  42. ^ Wembezi mob barricades road after ‘political’ killing, Daily News, 12 March 2013
  43. ^ Umlazi Political Violence, Press Statement, 2006
  44. ^ Umlazi Political Violence, Press Statement, 2006
  45. ^ A Culture of Political Assassination, Jane Duncan, SACSIS, 2010
  46. ^ Is the SACP still relevant?, Jeremy Cronin, The Times, 31 July 2012
  47. ^ Murders rock ANC, Paddy Harper, Mmanaledi Mataboge and Sizwe sama Yende, City Press, 29 July 2012
  48. ^ NUM branch secretary shot dead at Westplats mine, SABC, 6 October 2012
  49. ^ Cato Crest community leader gunned down, By NKULULEKO NENE, Daily News, 18 March 2013
  50. ^ Murder in KwaNdengezi, Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement, 2013
  51. ^ Another Marikana murder, NIVASHNI NAIR, The Times, 13 May 2013
  52. ^ Murders rock ANC, Paddy Harper, Mmanaledi Mataboge and Sizwe sama Yende, City Press, 29 July 2012
  53. ^ South Africa: Timeline of Reported Political Killings From 2007-2012, by GENEVIEVE QUINTAL, All Africa, 29 JULY 2012
  54. ^ Death of City Power procurement specialist silences staff members, CHARLES MOLELE, Mail & Guardian, 8 February 2013
  55. ^ Freedom is a killer, Njabulu S. Ndebele, City Press, 29 July 2012
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