The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a firm warning to those planning violence linked to the Local Government Elections, saying perpetrators of politically motivated killings will be tracked down, arrested and prosecuted.
National policing focus ahead of elections
Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, Deputy National Commissioner for Police, set out the message during a media briefing on Friday, saying police were alarmed by a spate of murders involving members and candidates from several political parties since the start of the year. He said law enforcement had already made arrests in some of the recent cases and would not tolerate attacks intended to intimidate voters, weaken parties or destabilise the electoral process.
“We are issuing a stern warning to anyone who is planning attacks, assassinations or acts of violence for political gain: you will be arrested, prosecuted and, upon conviction, face lengthy prison sentences,” Mosikili said.
According to the police presentation, the National Prosecuting Authority and SAPS are co-ordinating efforts under the Political Killings Task Team, a specialised unit that has been operational since 2018. The data cited at the briefing shows significant enforcement activity in recent years.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Suspects arrested since 2018 | more than 400 |
| Alleged hitmen arrested | over 180 |
| Suspects arrested in recent election-related murders | 7 |
Operation elements and policing tactics
SAPS said its election operational plan has been activated to protect voters, candidates and infrastructure during the local government poll. The package of measures outlined includes intelligence collection, a visible policing footprint, crowd management, and the safeguarding of voting stations and election-related facilities. Mosikili emphasised that these steps aimed to allow citizens to exercise their democratic rights free from intimidation.
- Intelligence gathering to detect planned attacks and networks involved in politically motivated violence.
- Visible policing to deter violent activity and reassure communities.
- Crowd and infrastructure protection to ensure secure voting environments.
Police noted that the murders recorded since January include victims affiliated with the MK Party, the African National Congress, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance. The briefing did not provide further operational detail about individual cases, citing ongoing investigations.
Context and consequences
Political killings have been a persistent problem in South Africa, particularly in the run-up to local elections where control of municipal resources and patronage is often contested. The Political Killings Task Team was created to address patterns of targeted assassinations and organised crime elements said to be involved in electoral violence. The figures presented at the briefing underline the scale of the response but also the continuing risk posed by politically driven attacks.
Observers will be watching whether the heightened policing posture and arrests translate into a measurable reduction in violence during the electoral period. Legal experts and civil society groups have previously called for improved witness protection, stronger forensic capacity and swifter prosecutions to break cycles of impunity. Mosikili’s statement reiterated the commitment to prosecute suspects should sufficient evidence be secured.
Police urged communities, political parties and candidates to co-operate with investigations and to report threats or intimidatory conduct. Those with information about politically motivated crimes are encouraged to contact local SAPS stations or to use available anonymous reporting channels.
The activation of the election plan and the arrests announced by police come amid wider concerns about electoral safety and the integrity of political contestation at municipal level. How effectively SAPS, the NPA and other agencies translate enforcement activity into sustained reductions in violence will be central to securing a peaceful voting process.
