Lastborn Shazi, a regional organiser for South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party, was shot dead at his home in Umzumbe on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Monday night. On Tuesday, police said a murder case had been opened and the motive was being investigated.
The shooting happened on 2 November, two days before the main day of South Africa’s local government elections, while special voting was taking place. Shazi was taking part in a virtual meeting on election preparations when he stopped responding, and those attending then received a call informing them of the shooting, the party said.
A provincial party spokesperson said news of the shooting reached the party at around 9pm on Monday. The party said on Tuesday that it was not aware of any witnesses and did not know the circumstances of the killing.
It called for the provincial police task team dealing with killings to investigate, establish the circumstances and bring those responsible to justice. It also asked supporters to remain calm and avoid speculation or sharing unverified allegations that might disrupt the investigation.
The timing and Shazi’s work on the election do not, by themselves, establish that the killing was politically motivated. Police said on Tuesday that they were investigating the motive.
Election security
Before Shazi was killed, police reported 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters during the election period. Six were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal. The figures describe the victims’ political connections, not proof of a particular motive in every case.
In an earlier assessment, police said they had identified 331 voting stations nationally as high-risk, including 165 in KwaZulu-Natal. Of the provincial total, 124 were in the eThekwini district and one was in Ugu district, which includes the Umzumbe area. The classification was a security assessment, not a finding about this shooting.
The national police commissioner said additional police visibility and targeted deployments were planned in response to the identified risks. Specialist units were placed on standby and mobile teams established to respond to incidents. The figures and plans were announced before the shooting and could change as the situation develops.
A separate deployment of 510 soldiers to support police in KwaZulu-Natal had already been authorised for 9 October to 30 November. The president’s office said it was intended to support law and order, particularly after violence arising from a campaign of misinformation about a court judgment on the Refugee Act. It was not announced as a response to Shazi’s death.
Voting for local councils
South Africa’s local elections are taking place on Wednesday 4 November. Voting stations are scheduled to be open from 7am to 9pm local time. The Electoral Commission said 29.2 million people were registered across 23,696 stations. Special votes were cast on 2 and 3 November, including at stations and through home visits.
Municipal councils are elected for five-year terms. In metropolitan areas, voters use a ward ballot and a party-list ballot; other municipalities also have a district council ballot. Councils help oversee local services, including water, sanitation and refuse collection, although responsibilities differ between areas.
The commission has instructed voters to use their registered station and bring an accepted identity document. It also says ballots must be marked in secret and prohibits intimidation or interference with voters and officials. Campaigning is prohibited within the boundaries of voting stations.
The MK Party is led by former president Jacob Zuma, who broke with the African National Congress in 2023. Its emergence contributed to the ANC’s loss of support in the 2024 national election. The eThekwini metropolitan council, which includes Durban, is among the councils at stake in the vote.
