Thulani Mbana’s name will remain on the ballot for the Free State’s local government elections on 4 November, despite the Democratic Alliance caucus leader being shot dead at his home in Zamdela earlier this week.
The DA has described the decision as a tribute to Mbana’s service and said voters will still be able to mark their cross next to his name. The party’s constituency head for Metsimaholo Municipality, Dr Igor Scheurkogel, said the decision was linked to Mbana’s dedication to the community and his political work.
However, the ballot papers had already been printed before the killing and cannot be changed in the final days before voting. This means Mbana’s name will appear when residents cast their votes, regardless of whether the decision is viewed as a political tribute or as the result of the election timetable.
What happened in Zamdela
Mbana was killed on Monday evening in what the available information describes as a targeted attack. He was reportedly preparing food for his children when he was lured outside and shot nine times.
The circumstances have raised concern about whether the murder was connected to his political activities. Sources cited in the original report claimed Mbana was preparing to expose alleged corruption involving fellow councillors in Metsimaholo Municipality. Those claims have not been tested in court, and no finding has been made that the alleged corruption was connected to the killing.
Police recovered three unlicensed firearms and ammunition during the investigation. According to a police source close to the case, the ammunition was similar to cartridges collected at the murder scene and was positively linked to them. The evidence will have to be presented through the criminal justice process before its significance can be determined in court.
Uncertainty over suspects
Two people were reportedly taken for questioning on Tuesday, less than a day after the killing. The suspects were allegedly found in possession of the firearms and ammunition and were expected to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
There is, however, an important distinction between the initial reports and the position attributed to police. While the two people were described as having been arrested and linked to a political party, police had not confirmed an arrest specifically in connection with Mbana’s murder. Their alleged membership of the party was also still being verified.
| Issue | Information available |
|---|---|
| Victim | DA Free State caucus leader Thulani Mbana |
| Location | Zamdela, Metsimaholo Municipality |
| Reported attack | Mbana was shot nine times at his home |
| Evidence recovered | Three unlicensed firearms and ammunition |
| Election date | 4 November |
Ballot decision and possible next step
Scheurkogel said the party would welcome a result declaring Mbana the winner and would then participate in a by-election. He expressed confidence in the DA’s prospects in the area, referring to the party’s previous by-election record there.
“If Mbana is declared the winner, we will gladly go to the by-elections knowing we have never lost by-elections in the area.”
A by-election would be required to fill the seat if Mbana were elected but could not take it up. The source material does not provide further details about the electoral procedure or the timing of any possible by-election, and the outcome will depend on the official result and the applicable election rules.
Mbana’s political career
Mbana joined the DA in 2017. He later served as a member of the mayoral committee responsible for spatial planning and human settlements when the party was in government in Metsimaholo Municipality.
His death comes at a particularly sensitive time for the municipality, with voters preparing to choose local representatives and parties competing for control of municipal councils. The allegations surrounding the killing add to the public interest in the case, but they should not be treated as established facts unless supported by evidence presented during the investigation or criminal proceedings.
What remains to be established
Several questions remain unanswered. These include whether the firearms will be formally linked to the murder in court, whether the ammunition evidence will be admitted and how the alleged political connection of the suspects will be assessed. Police have also not publicly confirmed a murder arrest based on the information available in the report.
- The identity of the person or people responsible for Mbana’s death has not been established in court.
- The alleged corruption claims involving councillors remain untested.
- The status of the two people taken for questioning still requires formal clarification from police and the court.
- Mbana’s name is expected to appear on the ballot on 4 November.
The case is likely to remain closely watched in Sasolburg and the wider Metsimaholo area as the election approaches. For voters, the immediate facts are that Mbana’s name will be on the ballot, the murder investigation is continuing and the legal status of the people questioned must still be confirmed through official channels.
